Condolences for Victims of Tragic N1 Bus Crash
13 October 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to Zimbabwe and Malawi following the tragic N1 bus crash, that claimed more than 40 lives.
According to reports, 42 people lost their lives when a bus travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe and Malawi overturned on the N1 on Sunday afternoon. Dozens of passengers were also injured in the crash when the bus lost control near Makhado in Limpopo and plunged into a ditch.
Ramaphosa described the incident as a tragedy for South Africa and its sister nations, Zimbabwe and Malawi. “This sadness is compounded by the fact that this incident has taken place during our annual Transport Month, where we place a special focus on the importance of safety on our roads.
“Our roads are also economic networks that bring the people of our region together across our national borders,” Ramaphosa said. “We must do everything we can as road users, transport operators, drivers and passengers to ensure that we stay safe and share our roads responsibly and with care for one another.”
The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, also extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
He said that this heartbreaking incident occurred along one of South Africa's busiest cross-border corridors linking South Africa with the rest of the SADC region. "It serves as a painful reminder of the human cost of unsafe travel conditions on long-distance routes and the urgent need to strengthen the safety and security of all people who traverse our borders in search of opportunity, connection and hope.
"As the Authority responsible for facilitating safe, orderly, and secure cross-border movements, the BMA remains committed to working closely with the Department of Transport and the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA), law enforcement agencies, and our regional counterparts to ensure that the standards of cross-border transport are continuously monitored and enforced."
Investigations are currently underway to establish the cause of the tragic bus crash.
TDS