POLOKWANE – A preliminary investigation by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has found that speeding and faulty brakes were the main causes of the fatal bus incident that claimed 43 lives and injured dozens more on the N1 North near Louis Trichardt on Sunday (October 12).

Read more: Limpopo bus tragedy: Death toll climbs to 43

The report, released to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa, paints a grim picture of a bus that was both unroadworthy and overloaded before it plunged down an embankment.

The ill-fated bus had departed from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape en route to Harare, Zimbabwe, carrying passengers from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Speeding and brake failure blamed

According to the RTMC’s technical assessment, the bus driver was travelling at a speed too high for the steep downhill conditions on the mountain pass.

Mechanical inspections later found that the bus and its trailer had only five of ten brakes working, and that one of those brakes was completely non-functional.

The trailer’s braking system was entirely defective, with none of its four brakes operational and a poorly repaired suspension system.

The Department of Transport’s spokesperson Collen Msibi said this means the bus and trailer had only half their braking capacity.

“The vehicle was not roadworthy and the driver was likely aware of this mechanical failure but continued the trip regardless,” his statement read.

Overloaded with 91 passengers

The investigation confirmed that the bus was overloaded, carrying 91 passengers despite being licensed for 62.

“Among the passengers were 11 children aged between three and five, which, when counted according to the National Road Traffic Regulation, meant the bus was overloaded by 23 passengers,” Msibi said.

A trailer attached to the bus was also found to be heavily loaded with personal belongings and baggage, adding to the weight imbalance that contributed to the vehicle’s instability.

Clear weather and safe road conditions

Msibi added that the report dismissed poor weather or bad road conditions as possible factors, confirming that visibility was clear and the road surface and signage were in good condition at the time of the crash.

“The N1’s downhill section where the accident occurred had adequate signage warning drivers to reduce speed and prepare for the sharp bends ahead,” his statement read.

Fatalities and injuries

The RTMC confirmed that 43 people died in the crash, including seven children, 18 men, and 18 women.

Another 34 passengers sustained serious injuries, while six were slightly injured.

“Eight passengers reportedly refused medical treatment and left the crash scene before their details could be recorded,” Msibi added.

Recommendations for stricter law enforcement

The RTMC has recommended urgent law enforcement operations to inspect the roadworthiness of foreign-registered buses entering South Africa, adding that it could have detected the unroadworthy condition of the bus and the trailer and this crash might not have occurred.

They also recommended monitoring overloaded vehicles at weighbridges and border posts as well as target heavy vehicles that fail to slow down on downhill stretches despite warning signs.

DNC Coaches apologise

Meanwhile DNC Coaches said they are working closely with law enforcement as investigations into the incident continue.

“At this stage, it is still too early to provide a full account of what happened. DNC Coaches is Cooperating fully with authorities as investigations continue, and we are working diligently to gather the real and verified information. We are committed to keeping the public informed as more details become available,” their statement read.

Police probe medicine found near site

Apart from the RTMC’s investigation, the Limpopo police have opened an inquiry following the discovery of several bottles containing what appears to be medication at the scene.

According to a statement from the Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the substances were found scattered along the highway a few kilometres outside Makhado town.

The bottles, which appear to contain scheduled medication, were collected for further examination.

Families gather at Tshilidzini Hospital to identify victims of Limpopo bus tragedy

On Tuesday, the Limpopo Provincial Government said 17 families arrived at the Tshilidzini Hospital to identify their loved ones.

The provincial government spokesperson, Ndavhe Ramakuela confirmed that the Victim Identification Team has photographed all the deceased and begun collecting fingerprint sets to assist with identification.

The process is being supported by authorities from Zimbabwe and Malawi, who will help compare fingerprints as some victims were found without identification documents.

“It’s a meticulous process,” Ramakuela said. “We need to ensure that every set of remains is correctly identified before repatriation, so families can find closure.”

21-week technical reconstruction and minister’s directive

Msibi said the final technical reconstruction report will take approximately 21 weeks to complete and that Creecy has directed the RTMC to:

• Investigate the bus company’s responsibility for operating an unroadworthy vehicle and consider a culpable homicide charge against the operator.

• Obtain the bus’s service and maintenance records, and determine which testing station issued its roadworthy certificate.

• Audit all DNC Coaches depots and fleet vehicles for compliance.

• Work with provincial law enforcement to conduct compulsory inspections of DNC Coaches vehicles entering South Africa through border posts.

Creecy emphasised that the department will act decisively once the final report is complete to ensure accountability and prevent further tragedies of this scale.