Tragedy struck in South Africa as a bus carrying pilgrims veered off a bridge in Limpopo province, plummeting 50 meters into a ravine.
Forty-five lives were lost in the horrific accident, leaving an eight-year-old girl as the sole survivor, albeit with serious injuries.
The pilgrims, en route from Gaborone, Botswana, to attend an Easter service in Moria, were met with devastation as the bus crashed through a barrier and burst into flames upon impact with the ground.
Rescue efforts persisted late into the evening, complicated by the rugged terrain and debris. Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga extended condolences to the bereaved families and pledged government support for repatriating the deceased and conducting a thorough inquiry into the crash’s cause.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in an Easter message, urged heightened vigilance on the roads to prevent further tragedies during the holiday weekend, emphasizing the collective responsibility to ensure road safety in South Africa, a nation grappling with a troubling road safety record.