Musina – A Mzansi Express cross-border bus has been involved in another deadly accident, this time near Musina, claiming the life of the driver and injuring several passengers. The crash, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, has reignited concerns about the safety record of the bus company and the broader issue of road safety on South Africa's major highways.
This is the second fatal incident involving a Mzansi Express bus in under a year. The bus, travelling from Gauteng to Zimbabwe, crashed at approximately 1:58 am on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, near the Baobab Truck Stop in the Vhembe District.
According to Tidimalo Chuene, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, a truck reportedly lost control and collided with both a light delivery vehicle and the Mzansi Express bus. "In the early hours of today, 8 July 2025, at 1:58 am, a serious bus accident occurred on the N1 North in Musina next to Baobab Truck Stop in the Vhembe District. It is reported that a truck lost control and collided with a light delivery vehicle and a bus," Chuene stated.
"Sadly, the driver (of the bus) who is male, was deceased at the scene. Four bus passengers sustained moderate injuries while four other passengers, and one passenger from the light delivery motor vehicle suffered minor injuries," Chuene added.
Initial reports suggest that reckless driving may have been a contributing factor to the crash, although investigations are still underway.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the bus swerved into the oncoming lane after hitting a stationary pick-up truck, before sideswiping the trailer of a haulage truck. The driver of the haulage truck was forced to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision. Emergency services arrived at the scene around 3:20 am, but multiple fatalities were already confirmed. The right side of the bus sustained significant damage from the impact with the trailer. Witnesses also noted that the pick-up truck which caused the crash had no hazard lights on and there was no warning triangle to indicate a breakdown ahead.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety has expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. "As a department, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and the loved ones of the deceased. To the injured, we wish them a speedy recovery," said Chuene.
"We continue to urge all motorists to exercise caution and obey the rules of the road, to prevent such tragedies from occurring. Let us prioritise road safety and respect the lives of all road users," she added.
Phuti Lekganyane of the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety told IOL at the time that the bus was en route to Johannesburg from Zimbabwe when the accident happened just before midnight on Tuesday, 27 August 2024. "All the deceased, five males and five females, are reportedly foreign nationals," said Lekganyane.
Reports indicated that the driver, unfamiliar with the route, drove over a roundabout at high speed, lost control, and overturned. "According to reports, the bus drove over a roundabout – the last traffic circle from Makhado towards Polokwane – at high speed, lost control and overturned, killing and injuring its passengers in the process," Lekganyane explained. Provincial transport authorities in Limpopo noted that the bus driver involved in the crash was reportedly new to the job and unfamiliar with the road.
The recurring nature of these incidents has placed Mzansi Express's safety record under intense scrutiny. Pressure is mounting on both the bus company's management and transport authorities to take decisive action to improve safety standards and prevent further loss of life.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety has urged operators to ensure drivers are properly trained and familiar with the routes they travel. They are also calling for stricter monitoring of driver rest schedules to combat fatigue, which is often cited as a contributing factor in road accidents.
The recent tragedies have also reignited a broader debate about road safety in South Africa, particularly concerning long-distance and cross-border bus services. Issues such as vehicle maintenance, driver competence, and adherence to traffic regulations are all coming under increased scrutiny.
As investigations into the latest crash continue, the focus remains on identifying the root causes and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The safety of passengers and other road users must be paramount, and all stakeholders have a responsibility to ensure that tragedies like these become a thing of the past.
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