By Rex Mphisa
SA Horror Crash: Gvt Bus For Identification Trip
By Rex Mphisa
THE Zimbabwean Government on Tuesday deployed a bus to carry relatives of the 42 people who perished in the DNC coach accident outside Makhado (formerly Louis Tritchadt) Sunday.
The bus leaves Harare at 12 midday on Wednesday for the 800 kilometre trip to identify the deceased including seven children.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has already announced it will foot all repatriation and burial costs of the deceased who perished in the mountainous stretch of the road to Zimbabwe from South Africa.
The ill-fated bus was traveling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape Province to Harare.
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, whose office chairs the Civil Protection Unit passed his condolence message and announced the bus facility for bereaved families to identify their loved ones.
“His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa has since declared a State of Disaster and directed the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works through the department of Civil Protection to provide State assisted burials as well as payment of medical bills for the injured following the DNC Coach road accident in Makhado, Limpopo Province, South Africa,” said Garwe.
“In this regard, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and other Government entities are calling upon relatives of the deceased to come forward and assist in the identification process.,” he said.
“Buses to ferry the next of kins from Harare to Polokwane have been arranged and scheduled to depart from the National Disaster Management Centre at Makombe Building (Harare) on 15 October 2025 at 12:00pm,” said Garwe.
The repatriation process will commence after positive identification of the deceased, he said.
“Government continues to rally behind the bereaved families during these trying times. In the same stride, we wish speedy recovery to the injured,” he said.
The horror crash the claimed the 42 lives injuring another 49 occurred in broad daylight and did not involve any other vehicle.
Reports from SA suggested the bus, a 61-seater was overloaded and the driver lost control resulting in it veering off the road and somersaulting into a cliff beneath eventually landing on its roof.
A survivor said the driver, believed among the deceased, may have been speeding while other suggestions point at fatigue.
Garwe asked relatives to contact officials in his ministry for further help.
“For further information please contact: Chief Director Civil Protection- Mr N. Nkomo: 0712 236 384; Mr F. Hokonya 0773654970, Ms V. Charumbira 0772852038, Mr N. Mutikuwe 0719449501, Mr T. Zimudzi 0773300388, Assistant Inspector P. Nyaude 0776594825, P. Jeti 0778 020 337,” he said.
The accident occurred at a common black spot where some 19 Zimbabweans perished a few years back.
Several Zimbabweans applauded their Government for the gesture to deploy buses for relatives.
Meanwhile South African authorities are investigating how a 61-seater bus was carrying 91 people, 30 above capacity.
Reports said the Department of Transport had started to probe the bus operator.
Sunday’s horror crash which has already been declared in Zimbabwe as a state of disaster is arguably the worst on that road in living memory.