JOHANNESBURG - Ten Zimbabweans were killed Monday morning when their bus traveling from Harare to Johannesburg overturned in Polokwane, Limpopo province in South Africa. Thirty others were admitted to the neigbouring hospitals seventeen of them with serious injuries.The bus only identified as belonging to the Sparo fleet, is believed to have been carrying cross border traders who frequent South Africa to buy basic goods for resell in Zimbabwe. Police spokesperson Captain Mahlaka Mashiane confirmed that seven women and three men died on the spot. Thirty other people were rushed to the local hospital of which seventeen were in critical conditions. We can confirm that all the deceased are Zimbabweans, he said.
Limpopo transport department official, Boiki Tsedu suspect fatigue and the condition of the bus to have contributed to the fatal accident as it occurred in a clear section of N1 North with no barriers lines in sight. We think that the cause of the accident was fatigue on the part of the driver and the conditions of the bus, said Tsedu.
Chris Masimba who was traveling in another bus from Harare was still under shock from what he saw. We arrived the same time with the first ambulance. People were thrown all over with some screaming for help. When I saw one deceased person with broken legs, I just went away, Masimba said.
Another witness identified only as Ntando also passed by a few minutes after the accident occurred. It was traumatic. People were crying for help but we could not do anything because most of them had broken legs and arms, she said.
Meanwhile police have opened a case of capable homicide while investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident are in progress. Names of the deceased will be released when their next of kin have been informed.
Post published in: News