Faulty brakes and overloading blamed for Limpopo bus crash that killed 43 people

The Department of Transport has confirmed that the Limpopo bus crash which claimed 43 lives and left dozens injured on the N1 North was caused by a combination of speeding, mechanical failure, and overloading.

A preliminary report into the October 12, 2025 crash revealed that the bus was overloaded by 23 passengers, half of its brakes were defective, and the driver was travelling at an unsafe speed on a steep, winding mountain pass.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and her deputy, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, have officially received the report, which was compiled following an investigation by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

According to the RTMC, a major contributing factor was the driver’s excessive speed for the conditions along the mountain descent.

“During the mechanical investigation, it was established that the bus and trailer only had five out of ten brakes in working condition, and one brake on the bus had no braking ability,” departmental spokesperson Collen Msibi said.

He added that none of the four brakes on the trailer were operational and that its suspension had been poorly repaired.

“This means the bus and trailer only had half of their braking capacity, as the other half had not been operational for a long time,” Msibi said. 

“The bus and trailer were not roadworthy due to the defective braking system and the poorly repaired suspension.”

He said the driver was likely aware of the braking problems and had adjusted his driving style to compensate for the defect.

Msibi also confirmed that the bus, which had a legal seating capacity of 62 passengers, was carrying 91 people at the time of the crash.

“There were 11 children between the ages of three and five. According to Regulation 231 of the National Road Traffic Regulation, two children between the ages of three and six count as one passenger, which means the vehicle was overloaded by 23 people,” he said.

The trailer attached to the bus was packed with baggage and personal belongings.

Msibi said 43 passengers died in the crash, 34 sustained serious injuries, and six had minor injuries. Eight people at the scene refused medical treatment and left before their details could be recorded.

The bus was travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to Harare, Zimbabwe, carrying passengers from South Africa, Malawi, Congo, and Zimbabwe.

The RTMC investigation remains ongoing and is expected to take 21 weeks to complete, including a full technical reconstruction. 

Investigators will also examine why the overloading was not detected at weighbridges along the route.

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Meanwhile, the Cabinet expressed concern after buckets of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other prescription medicines were allegedly found among the wreckage without documentation indicating medical cargo.

“A full-scale investigation has been launched, and law enforcement agencies are treating this accident as a potential case of pharmaceutical smuggling,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said during a media briefing earlier this week.

She urged foreign nationals to respect South African laws and warned that the discovery of stolen medicines from government clinics undermines efforts to ensure equal access to public healthcare.

“Unfortunately, proof of brazen theft of medicines from government clinics does not help our efforts to restore fair conditions for foreign nationals to access healthcare,” Ntshavheni said.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that an inquiry docket has been opened at the Makhado Police Station in the Vhembe District for further investigation.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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