Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has instructed road authorities to urgently design an engineering solution for a dangerous stretch of the N1 near Makhado that has repeatedly claimed lives, following another fatal crash involving a bus.
Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa issued the directive after five people were killed when a bus carrying more than 30 passengers crashed on the northbound lane between Makhado and Musina in the early hours of Thursday.
The ministers ordered the South African National Roads Agency Limited to urgently address the hazardous curve, which has been the site of multiple serious crashes involving heavy vehicles.
They also instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation to report on progress made since October last year, when it was directed to intensify roadworthy inspections of buses crossing the Beitbridge Border Post.
Emergency services confirmed that five people died at the scene, while injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals. Authorities said the bus was travelling north towards Musina when the crash occurred.
In a statement, National Department of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi said the ministers are treating the matter with urgency.
“The Minister of Transport and the Deputy Minister have directed SANRAL to find a road engineering solution to the persistent rise in crashes on this particular curve,” said Msibi.
He added that the Road Traffic Management Corporation will investigate the cause of the crash, with a preliminary report expected within 48 hours.
“The RTMC is investigating the cause of the crash. A preliminary investigation report is expected within 48 hours once the investigation begins,” Msibi said.
Creecy and Hlengwa also conveyed their condolences to the families of those who died and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The N1 corridor between Makhado and Musina is a major freight and passenger route linking South Africa to neighbouring countries, with heavy truck and cross-border bus traffic using the road daily. Repeated fatal crashes on the same curve have raised longstanding concerns about road safety in the area.
Authorities say further updates will be provided once investigations and engineering assessments are completed.
