What was meant to be a hopeful journey home for dozens of travellers from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe turned into a scene of horror and heartbreak on Sunday evening, when a cross-border bus plunged down a steep embankment along the N1 near Ingwe Lodge in Limpopo.

The devastating crash claimed 42 lives, including seven children, and left 49 others injured, six of them critically. Among the dead was a 10-month-old baby, according to rescue officials. The bus, carrying passengers from Zimbabwe and Malawi, overturned shortly before 18:00 in a treacherous mountainous section of the road outside Louis Trichardt.

On Monday morning, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa expressed deep sorrow at the scale of the tragedy, calling it “a dark day for South Africa’s roads.”

“We are devastated by the loss of 42 lives in this horrific crash. Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities of the victims,” Creecy said. “No words can truly capture the pain of this loss. We also wish the injured a full and speedy recovery.”

Emergency services battled through the night to rescue survivors trapped inside the mangled wreckage. Paramedics, firefighters, and traffic officers worked side by side under floodlights, pulling bodies from the debris and airlifting the critically injured.

By dawn, the full extent of the devastation became clear: 42 fatalities – 17 adult males, 18 adult females, and seven children – and 49 injured passengers, including six in critical condition. The injured were rushed to Louis Trichardt, Siloam, and Elim hospitals, with one critically injured child flown to Tshilidzini Hospital by helicopter.

President Cyril Ramaphosa extended condolences to South Africa’s neighbours, Zimbabwe and Malawi, who lost citizens in the crash.

“This incident is a tragedy for South Africa and our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi alike,” Ramaphosa said. “It is deeply saddening that this happened during Transport Month, a time when we are emphasizing safety on our roads. We must all take responsibility, as drivers, operators, and passenger, to ensure that every journey is safe.”

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has dispatched a team of investigators to reconstruct the crash scene and conduct a mechanical examination of the bus. The cause remains under investigation, though authorities suspect a combination of mechanical failure and driver fatigue.

At Louis Trichardt Hospital, grief was palpable. Survivors, wrapped in blankets and covered in dust, sat quietly in corridors as doctors worked to treat the injured. Local volunteers and community members arrived with food, water, and blankets for those who had lost everything.

One survivor, 34-year-old Tendai Ncube from Bulawayo, said she had been sitting near the back of the bus when she felt it begin to swerve.

“We were going down the hill, and I heard people screaming,” she said softly, tears welling in her eyes. “Then everything went dark. When I woke up, I was lying outside the bus. I saw children crying. Some people were not moving. It was terrible.”

The tragedy has once again thrown a harsh spotlight on South Africa’s staggering road fatality statistics. According to the RTMC’s 2024/25 data, more than 12,500 people die annually on the country’s roads, an average of 34 fatalities every day. Public and scholar transport vehicles account for nearly 40% of multi-fatality crashes, often due to poor vehicle maintenance, reckless driving, or fatigue.

Over 1,400 people were killed in road crashes during the 2024/25 festive season alone, an increase of 16% compared to the previous year. Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape consistently record the highest fatality rates.

Just last month, nine learners in KwaZulu-Natal died when their minibus taxi overturned on their way to school. In February, six pupils were killed in the Eastern Cape when their taxi rolled down a hill.

“These numbers are not just statistics,” Deputy Minister Hlengwa said during a briefing. “They are mothers, fathers, and children, families torn apart. This must stop.”

Creecy said the government is fast-tracking the review of the National Road Safety Strategy, which aims to strengthen enforcement, improve vehicle inspection systems, and ensure accountability for unroadworthy transport operators.

Opposition parties have also called for immediate safety interventions. DA Limpopo spokesperson Marie Helm said the crash underscores the need for better law enforcement and safety measures on the province’s dangerous mountain passes.

“This tragic accident highlights the urgent need for improved road visibility and stronger traffic law enforcement, particularly as we approach the festive season,” Helm said. “Lives are being lost far too often on our roads.”

The N1 between Louis Trichardt and Musina remains partially closed as police and forensic teams continue recovery operations. Authorities have urged motorists to use alternate routes via Witvlag and Williespoort roads and to drive cautiously.

For the families of those who perished, the tragedy has left an unfillable void. The provincial government has set up psychosocial support teams to assist survivors and relatives of the deceased, while consular services from Zimbabwe and Malawi are helping identify victims and repatriate remains.

Standing near the wreckage on Monday, Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba summed up the collective grief:

“We have lost fathers, mothers, and children – some who were simply trying to get home. It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life is and how urgently we must act to make our roads safer.”