Thupeyo Muleya, thupeyo.muleya@zimpapers.co.zw

Scores of Zimbabweans are feared dead after another cross-border bus travelling from Gauteng to Zimbabwe plunged into a cliff early on Thursday morning.

The accident occurred along the N1 outside Makhado town in Limpopo province near Ingwe Lodge at the same spot where 36 Zimbabweans and eight Malawians were killed in a similar accident in October last year.

According to South Africa’s Department of Traffic and Community Safety the bus is still in the trapped down the cliff and rescue workers are still on the scene.

In addition, the portion of the road has been closed.

Limpopo’s Member of Executive Committee [MEC] for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Violet Mathye, is expected to arrive at the accident scene on Thursday morning.

“A bus carrying passengers lost control and fell into a ditch in the area,” said the department.

“At this stage, the exact cause of the accident remains unknown.

“However, it is clear that there are multiple fatalities and injuries. A competent authority will confirm the numbers in due course”.

The department added that the bus was travelling from Gauteng to Zimbabwe, and it has not yet been established whether all passengers were bound for Zimbabwe.

“The vehicle remains in the ditch, making it difficult to determine the exact number of occupants at the time of the incident,” said the department.

The road remains closed to traffic.

Motorists are advised to use the alternative route via Nzhelele’s R523 road until further notice.

More updates will be provided as new information becomes available…