At least 45 dead in bus crash in South Africa

bAt least 45 people have been killed and another seriously injured in a bus accident in South Africa. The bus fell around 50 meters from a bridge in Limpopo province in northern South Africa and then crashed into the bottom of a ravine, the transport ministry said on Thursday.

According to the information, the bus was apparently traveling from neighboring Botswana to Moria in the north of South Africa. The town of Moria in Limpopo Province is known as a place of pilgrimage for Christians and a popular destination over the Easter holidays.

As the ministry further explained, the driver apparently lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the safety barriers on the bridge. The bus was then thrown over the bridge and hit the ground in the ravine, where it eventually caught fire. The exact cause of the accident is still being determined.

The vehicle had a Botswanan license plate and the nationality of the occupants was still being checked, according to authorities. The only survivor is an eight-year-old child who was taken to hospital, according to the local transport authority.

The accident occurred on a bridge between two hills near the town of Mmamatlakala, around 300 kilometers north of Johannesburg. Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga went to the scene of the accident on Thursday and promised a comprehensive investigation into the accident.

South Africa has one of the best developed road networks in Africa. However, road safety in the country is poor. Just a few hours before the accident, President Cyril Ramaphosa had called on his compatriots in a statement to “do their best to ensure that the Easter holidays are safe” with a view to upcoming trips.