On Saturday, a devastating accident occurred on the R71 in Magoebaskloof, near Tzaneen, Limpopo, resulting in the loss of five ANC members' lives. The incident occurred when a bus carrying the members was struck by another bus, causing it to veer off the road and into a ditch.
The ill-fated bus was en route to Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, where the ANC's 112th anniversary celebrations and January 8 statement events were scheduled to take place.
According to the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, the accident involved three buses traveling in a convoy. The third bus collided with the second bus from behind, causing it to overturn and plunge into a gorge at approximately 03:30.
"The buses were transporting ANC members from the Molemole Sub-Region within the Capricorn District Municipality," stated Tidimalo Chuene, spokesperson for the department.
Tragically, five individuals lost their lives in the accident, and several other passengers sustained injuries. The injured individuals were promptly transported to hospitals in the Mopani district for medical attention, as stated in the department's report.
In response to the incident, Florence Radzilani, the MEC for Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo, along with other provincial government officials, have been excused from attending the January 8 statement events in Mbombela. Instead, they have proceeded to the accident scene on the R71 to oversee the situation.
As a result of the accident, the road has been closed, and emergency and rescue personnel are diligently working to clear the scene and support those affected by the tragedy.
