By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
THIRTEEN relatives of victims from Sunday’s deadly South African bus crash are currently in Beitbridge, awaiting clearance to travel for the physical identification of their loved ones.
The families, who arrived in Beitbridge on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, await clearance from hospitals in South Africa, where the bodies of the deceased are kept.
The physical identification process is scheduled for Monday.
Authorities have since confirmed that 30 Zimbabweans and six Malawians are among the 43 people who perished when a passenger bus plunged off the Zoutpansberg Mountain in Limpopo.
Beitbridge District Development Coordinator Sikhangezile Mafu confirmed the arrival of the bereaved relatives.
She said government support mechanisms are in place to assist them.
“Thirteen next of kins arrived in Beitbridge on Wednesday the 15th of October 2025. They are at the Social Services reception centre as we speak,” said Mafu.
“Their welfare is being taken care of by Government through the Department of Civil Protection. The District Civil Protection Committee had already been activated at the time of their arrival, so it’s all systems go.”
Mafu said authorities are working with their South African counterparts to facilitate the identification and repatriation processes once clearance is granted.
The tragic accident, which occurred on Sunday, has left communities in both Zimbabwe and Malawi in mourning, as families await the return of their loved ones for burial.
Government officials have urged patience and calm as the cross-border coordination continues between the two countries’ disaster response agencies.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa in his condolence message declared the accident a national disaster signalling Government would assume all responsibilities in the funerals of the deceased.
The bus now believed to have been overloaded was travelling from the Eastern Cape to Harare enroute to Malawi.
Information from one of the survivors suggests the bus was squeky and passengers had earlier appealed for replacement but the crew was reportedly adamant.
The survivor also said the driver lost control when hs tried to avoid an oncoming vehicle suggesting the bus encroached into the path of opposing traffic.
Meanwhile SA authorities are investigating to establish who had the consignment of Antiretroviral drugs that were found together with some prescription drugs on the bus without accompanying documents.