LIMPOPO – A head-on collision between a bus and a bakkie on the D3715 between Gogobole and Ravele on July 28, claimed the life of one person and left several others injured.

The road was closed for almost three hours as emergency personnel, traffic officers, and police worked to clear the scene and attend to the injured.

The driver of the bakkie, identified as 42-year-old Pontso Ndonyana from Madombidzha, died at the scene, trapped under the wreckage.

The bus, which was transporting church members, sustained significant damage, and its passengers were rushed to Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries is still being assessed.

The exact cause of the accident remains unclear, but early reports suggest that Ndonyana’s vehicle collided head-on with the bus as it travelled from the direction of Madombidzha.

Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, police spokesperson, confirmed that the bus was en route from the Kutama area when the accident occurred.

Unsafe overtaking is suspected to be a contributing factor, and a culpable homicide docket has been opened as the investigation continues.

The family of the deceased is grappling with the sudden loss. Pontso’s wife, Matodzi Rametsi, expressed the family’s shock, saying, “Only God knows why it happened like this. It is very painful to lose people like this.”

The untimely death has shaken not only the family but also the wider community, who remember Pontso as a beloved and accommodating figure.

“We have received many messages of condolences, and it shows us that Pontso was a people’s person, welcoming to everyone, irrespective of color, race, or religion,” Rametsi added.

An eyewitness, Sampson Raudzingana, recounted the moments leading up to the crash.

“I was standing next to the road when I suddenly heard a loud bang. I realised that the bakkie could overturn.”

He described the incident as the most horrifying experience of his life.

The driver of the bus sustained minor injuries, including a head injury and a fractured left foot.

In response to the accident, Makhado Mayor Dorcus Mboyi expressed her condolences to the families affected and voiced concern over the rising number of road accidents.

“This is a serious concern as more innocent lives are lost on our roads. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased during this time of grief, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured ones.”

Ndonyana was laid to rest on Saturday at Biaba, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and community spirit that will be deeply missed by all who knew him.