Limpopo bus disaster: Police want owner of medication found at crash scene to come forward

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo has launched an official inquiry following the discovery of bottles appearing to be medication at the site of the horrific bus crash on the N1 freeway near Makhado, which killed 43 people on Sunday.

The provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, confirmed that an inquiry docket has been opened by Makhado police in the Vhembe district to investigate the discovery. The bottles of medication were found on the accident scene, a few kilometres outside Makhado. 

The inquiry comes as police explore potential contraventions of the country's drug laws. According to the SAPS statement, Section 22A of the Medicines and Related Substances Act in South Africa makes it a crime to possess certain scheduled medicines without proper authorization.

"Legally, someone is only permitted to possess and carry the quantity of medicine you have been prescribed by an authorized prescriber. Carrying a large quantity of medicine without exception is illegal," provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said.

While the lawful owner of the medication has not yet been identified, police are treating the find seriously as their investigation into the cause of the fatal crash continues.

The tragedy occurred on Sunday, October 13, when a cross-border bus, reportedly travelling from Gqeberha to Zimbabwe and Malawi, veered off the mountainous road on the N1 and plunged down an embankment. The death toll rose to 43, with scores of other passengers injured.

"Although for now the lawful owner of the bottles of medication is not yet identified to get the explanation regarding its origin, the police have, in the meantime, opened an inquiry for further investigation," said Ledwaba.

"Anyone or the lawful owner of the medication is requested to contact the nearest police, call the SAPS toll-free number 08600 10111 or use the My SAPS App."

Visuals seen on television news channels showed bottles of what appears to be BronCleer spewed among the luggage at the crash scene. The images and videos have sparked outrage, with many social media users accusing foreign nationals of looting South Africa's health system.

On Tuesday, IOL reported that health authorities have moved to quash viral social media claims that South Africa’s public healthcare system is distributing BronCleer, a codeine-based cough syrup, insisting the medication is strictly controlled and only available through private or illegal channels.

The clarification comes amid a police bust in Kimberley that uncovered a stash of unregistered medicines - including BronCleer - being sold unlawfully by unlicensed operators.

City of Tshwane's MMC for Health Services, Tshegofatso Mashabela, has dismissed claims circulating on social media about public healthcare facilities in South Africa distributing BronCleer, a codeine-based cough syrup.

Mashabela clarified that BronCleer is a controlled substance and not included in the official formularies or procurement lists of any government hospitals or clinics.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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