A tragic bus crash along the N1 North near Makhado, Limpopo, on Sunday, 12 October, claimed 42 lives — yet a four-month-old baby miraculously emerged with only scratches.
The infant is among 49 survivors currently admitted to three hospitals, including Siloam and Elim. Officials have not yet confirmed the fate of the baby’s parents.
The collision happened in a mountainous stretch of road. The bus — travelling from the Eastern Cape toward Zimbabwe and Malawi — was approved to carry 60 passengers but was reportedly carrying 91 at the time of the accident.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who visited the crash site on Monday, cited overloading and speeding as likely contributing factors. Together with Zimbabwe’s ambassador, David Hamadziripi, and Malawi’s envoy, Stella Chiripo Ndau, Creecy said cross-border cooperation would be crucial in recovering and identifying the remains.
She described the scene as harrowing, explaining that many victims were thrown from the bus as it went down an embankment, with some found trapped beneath the vehicle. The recovery process, she said, lasted throughout the night as emergency workers combed through the wreckage.
Among the dead was a 10-month-old girl, one of seven children who tragically lost their lives in the crash. Provincial authorities have announced that the identification of the deceased will begin on Wednesday, 15 October.
Meanwhile, investigations into the cause of the horrific accident continue. Officials are awaiting further reports to determine whether the baby’s parents survived the crash.
The devastating incident has left the nation mourning and raised renewed concerns about road safety, vehicle overloading, and cross-border transport compliance. Despite the overwhelming loss, the survival of the infant has been described as a “miracle amid tragedy,” offering a small ray of hope in a scene marked by grief and devastation.
