LIMPOPO – The Limpopo Provincial Government, in partnership with the embassies of Zimbabwe and Malawi, will meet with the families of victims of the devastating N1 bus incident today (October 20) to begin the next phase of the identification process.

The meeting will take place at Siloam Hospital in Makhado, where families and relatives will receive support as they physically identify their loved ones who died in the accident that claimed 43 lives near Louis Trichardt last Sunday.

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

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).

Identification and forensic progress

The Limpopo Government says the identification process follows the completion of post-mortem examinations conducted by the Forensic Pathology Services.

Provincial Government Spokesperson Ndavhe Ramakuela says the SAPS Victim Identification Centre has also begun scientific identification procedures, including DNA testing and fingerprint matching, in collaboration with Zimbabwean and Malawian authorities.

Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba commended the efforts made so far, saying the team has worked tirelessly to fast-track the repatriation process.

Ramakuela says the Department of Social Development continues to provide trauma counselling and psychosocial support to affected families, while logistical arrangements for identification and repatriation are being coordinated through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre.

RTMC confirms bus was not roadworthy

Meanwhile, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) confirms that the bus involved in the crash was not roadworthy, was overloaded, and was speeding while descending the mountainous section of the N1 near Louis Trichardt.

On Friday, it was reported that 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.

Read more: Limpopo N1 bus tragedy: Faulty brakes, speeding and overloading blamed

Premier Ramathuba welcomed the Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s commitment to take firm action against the bus company and to strengthen enforcement against unroadworthy and overloaded vehicles.

“We welcome the minister’s commitment to ensure that law enforcement agencies act swiftly against those who break the law,” Ramathuba added.