Four killed as packed bus overturns

FOUR people, including two kids lost their lives when a bus overturned on the N1 between Murraysburg and Colesberg.

The crash happened at around 4:30am on Sunday, 25 May. The long-distance coach was travelling from Zimbabwe to Cape Town with 53 people on board.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after the crash. Paramedics declared two adults and two kids dead at the scene. Eighteen others sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The severity of their injuries remains unclear.

One of the injured passengers is the mum of Melody Chikadaya (45), a Cape Town resident and she spoke to the SunTeam about the ordeal.

“My mother was visiting me from Harare. I had just come out of hospital after being bedridden for weeks. She came to look after me.

“She was supposed to return to Zimbabwe on 10 June. We were chatting on WhatsApp around 2am, but I must have dozed off. When I woke up around 6am, I had several missed calls. Then I saw a message from her saying she was in hospital and sent me some photos. I was in shock,” she said.

Melody said her mum could not recall how the accident happened, as she had been asleep at the time.

She told me her leg is broken, her ribs are very sore, but she doesn’t know which hospital she’s in. We’re going to check all the hospitals and clinics in the Colesberg and Murraysburg area,” she said.

Police spokesman Sergeant Christopher Spies confirmed that a case of culpable homicide has been opened.

“Murraysburg police opened a culpable homicide docket following the death of four passengers after a bus overturned on the N1 near the turnoff to Murraysburg on Sunday, 25 May 2025 at about 04:30.

“According to reports available, emergency services were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival the police found the bus with four occupants, two adults and two children, who sustained serious injuries. They were declared dead by paramedics on scene.”

He said at least 18 other passengers sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for medical care.

“The extent of their injuries is unknown at this stage. Preliminary investigation on scene indicates that the bus with 53 occupants on board was enroute from Zimbabwe to Cape Town at the time of the accident. The cause of the accident is yet to be established. It forms part of the ongoing police investigation,” said Spies.