Tragedy Strikes South Africa: Bus Crash Claims 45 Lives

In a devastating accident in South Africa, a bus carrying pilgrims from Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, to an Easter service in the town of Moria, crashed off a bridge into a ravine, resulting in the loss of 45 lives. The incident occurred on the Mmamatlakala mountain pass between Mokopane and Marken, approximately 300km (190 miles) north of Johannesburg.

The bus, carrying a total of 46 passengers, crashed through a barrier and caught fire upon impact with the ground. Sadly, only one person, an eight-year-old girl, managed to survive the horrific accident. Although she sustained serious injuries, she is currently in a stable condition in the hospital.

Authorities have faced challenges in identifying the victims, with only nine bodies being recognizable out of the 34 recovered from the scene. The rescue operation spanned late into the evening and continued the following morning.

Colin Msibi, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport, explained that the survivor was likely ejected from the bus upon impact with the bridge barrier, which may have contributed to her survival. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for stringent measures to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future. Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy.