Forensic tests have confirmed that 36 of the victims of last week’s fatal bus crash in South Africa’s Limpopo Province were Zimbabwean nationals, an official at Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Pretoria has said.
Zimbabwe’s Chargé d’Affaires in Pretoria, Shepherd Gwenzi, provided an update on the forensic results and repatriation plans on Tuesday. He said:
“All post-mortem examinations have been completed, and physical identification of the deceased has been successfully conducted by next of kin in Limpopo Province.
Fingerprint matching was carried out jointly by the South African Police Service and the Zimbabwe Republic Police using national records.”
Gwenzi added that the remains would be handed over to Doves Funeral Services on 21 October for embalming, ahead of repatriation to Zimbabwe for burial.
He said the repatriation documents would be processed at Salem Hospital in Machuari with support from the victims’ relatives.
“This tragic accident claimed the lives of 36 Zimbabweans, seven of whom were minors. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the bereaved families.
The post-mortem reports have been completed, and all deceased have been positively identified.
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The Zimbabwe Republic Police assisted the South African authorities in matching fingerprints with national records.”
The bodies are expected to be flown to Zimbabwe once the paperwork is complete, potentially as early as Thursday, 23 October 2025.
“Processing of repatriation documents will commence at Salem Hospital, with assistance from next of kin.
While the departure date depends on the completion of these processes, we anticipate that batches of identified bodies could depart as early as Thursday, 23 October.
Meanwhile, 12 Zimbabwean nationals remain hospitalised in Limpopo Province, receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the accident,” Gwenzi said.
Preliminary investigations by South Africa’s Road Traffic Management Corporation and the Department of Transport found that a combination of speeding, mechanical failure, and overloading caused the DNC bus crash near Makhado on 12 October 2025.
The driver was reportedly speeding while descending a steep mountain pass on the N1 highway, making the bus difficult to control.
Mechanical inspections revealed that only five of the bus and trailer’s ten brakes were functioning, with one brake completely failed and the trailer’s suspension system poorly repaired.
The bus was also overloaded, carrying 91 passengers despite being licensed for only 60. It eventually veered off the road, plunged down an embankment, and landed upside down.
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