LIMPOPO – An 8 year-old child is the sole survivor of a horror bus crash which claimed the lives of 45 passengers earlier today on the R518 at the Mamatlakala bridge between Marken and Mokopane, Transport MEC Florence Radzilani confirmed in a statement by the department.

The MEC, as well as Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga were scheduled to conduct a road safety operation at the Kranskop Toll Plaza, when they received the news of the incident and subsequently visited the crash scene.

The national Transport Department confirmed that the child is receiving emergency medical attention for a serious injury.

It is understood that the bus was travelling from Botswana to Moria for the annual Easter pilgrimage, when the driver lost control and it veered 50m off the bridge before catching fire.

“It is alleged that the driver lost control, colliding with barriers on the bridge which caused the bus to veer over the barriers,” a departmental report reads.

The minister conveyed the department’s condolences with the affected families.  “Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We continue to urge responsible driving at all times with heightened alertness as more people are on our roads this Easter weekend.”

Rescue operations continued until late this evening, as some bodies were burned beyond recognition, and others were trapped inside the debris.

A verification process of the identities of all the passengers on board is underway.