Pretoria – A preliminary report released by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) into the Limpopo bus crash that killed 43 people has revealed shocking details of negligence, mechanical failure, and overloading. The report was officially presented to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa in Pretoria this week.
The fatal crash occurred on Sunday, 12 October 2025, on the N1 North in Limpopo, when a DNC cross-border bus travelling from Gqeberha to Harare plunged down a mountain pass. Among the passengers were citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speeding and poor vehicle condition blamed
The RTMC’s investigation found that the bus driver was travelling at an unsafe speed for the conditions while descending the steep downhill section. A detailed mechanical inspection revealed that only five of the ten brakes across the bus and its trailer were working. One of the bus’s brakes had no functionality at all, and none of the four trailer brakes were operational.
Investigators also discovered that the trailer’s suspension had been poorly repaired, leaving both the bus and trailer in a dangerously unroadworthy condition. The report suggests the driver was aware of these defects and had adapted his driving style accordingly, but the mechanical failures proved catastrophic.
Bus was severely overloaded
The bus, designed to carry 62 passengers, was carrying 91 people at the time of the crash — an overload of 23 passengers when calculated according to South Africa’s traffic regulations, which count two small children as one adult passenger. Eleven of the occupants were children aged between three and five.
The trailer was also heavily loaded with luggage and personal belongings, further reducing the vehicle’s stability and braking ability.
Human tragedy in clear conditions
According to the RTMC, 43 occupants died in the crash, 34 sustained serious injuries, and six were slightly injured. Another eight refused medical attention and left the crash scene before their details could be recorded.
Weather and road conditions were ruled out as contributing factors — visibility was clear, the road surface was in good condition, and warning signage along the downhill stretch was sufficient.
Read | Public Outrage After Graphic Video from Limpopo Bus Crash Scene Surfaces Online
Creecy orders accountability and stronger enforcement
Minister Creecy has instructed the RTMC to widen its investigation to determine the bus company’s role in ensuring roadworthiness and compliance with operator duties. She further directed the RTMC to obtain maintenance records and service schedules for the vehicle and to work with the Anti-Corruption Unit to trace the testing centre that issued the roadworthy certificate.
Creecy also called for a nationwide inspection campaign targeting foreign-registered buses entering South Africa, focusing on their roadworthiness, loading practices, and compliance with safety regulations.
Full report still to come
While the RTMC’s current report is preliminary, the agency confirmed that a final technical reconstruction report will be completed within 21 weeks. That report will include findings from weighbridge operations and further analysis into how an overloaded, unroadworthy vehicle managed to travel such a long distance without detection.
The Minister said the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to strengthen enforcement on long-distance and cross-border passenger buses, many of which continue to operate in dangerous and illegal conditions.
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