30 Zimbabweans, 6 Malawians Among 43 Victims Identified in Makhado Bus Tragedy

The painful process of identifying victims from the tragic Makhado bus accident in South Africa has confirmed that 30 Zimbabweans and six Malawians were among the 43 people who lost their lives when a bus plunged off the Zoutpansberg Mountain in Limpopo on Sunday.

According to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), officials from Zimbabwe and Malawi are collaborating with South African authorities and affected families to confirm the identities of the deceased.

Ms Veronica Bare, the CPU’s Deputy Director for Response and Coordination, said a bus carrying 12 family members of the victims left Harare on Wednesday to assist with the identification process in Makhado.

“We are travelling with relatives of the deceased who will help identify their loved ones. We will also be collecting additional families along the way in Masvingo and Beitbridge,” Ms Bare explained.

She confirmed that Doves Funeral Services has been appointed to repatriate the remains once the post-mortems and necessary paperwork are complete.

“The identification process is still underway. Once the formalities are done, Doves will begin transporting the bodies to their respective homes,” she added.

Ms Bare said several relatives have already arrived in Makhado, where South African authorities are using fingerprint matching and photographs to identify victims.

Mr Gabriel Masvora, spokesperson for the Ministry of Local Government, stated that the Zimbabwean Government will continue supporting the affected families until all victims are buried.

“About 15 family members have visited our Disaster Management Centre and travelled to South Africa to identify their loved ones. We provided a bus for transportation, and those already in South Africa are assisting with the process,” he said.

“For those who lack travel documents, we are coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and South African immigration officials to allow them to cross the border,” added Mr Masvora.

Mr Ndavhe Ramakuela, spokesperson for the Limpopo Provincial Government, confirmed that the identification process remains ongoing and is being handled with sensitivity and care.

“The provincial government continues to work closely with authorities and families. Fingerprints and photographic records are being used to confirm identities,” he said.

The ill-fated bus, carrying 91 passengers from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe, veered off a mountainous road near Louis Trichardt, marking one of the deadliest transport disasters in recent years.

“Of the passengers, 43 died, 40 were hospitalised, and eight were treated and discharged,” said Mr Ramakuela.

By Tuesday, 17 families had visited Tshilidzini Hospital to identify their relatives. Authorities expect the process to continue for several days.

In a tragic coincidence, another accident occurred on Wednesday near the same stretch of road when a cement truck crashed into a gorge, just opposite the site of the bus crash.

Emergency services worked late into the night as investigations into the second accident continued.

The Makhado tragedy has plunged communities in Zimbabwe and Malawi into mourning, with social media filled with heartfelt tributes and condolences.

“We are committed to ensuring that all victims are identified and repatriated with dignity,” said Ms Bare.

Officials expect the repatriation process to begin once all identifications are finalized in the coming days.