Names of six of the eight victims of fatal R555 accident released
STEELPOORT - The victims of the horrific accident involving a Nnyana Shakwana bus and an SB Trading truck on April 18 have been identified.
Eight people died when the bus and truck collided at about 07:20 on the R555 between Lavino and Tubatse Residence.
The bus was carrying miners from Mototolo Mine to Steelpoort, while the truck was being driven towards Steelbridge with commuters on the back.
SAPS members at the scene said when these two vehicles collided, the passengers on the back of the truck were slung off.
Eight were killed and eight were injured.
The deceased were identified as Rachel Maphanga from Ga-Mampuru, Maria Malatjie from Bothashoek, Raymond Mokoena from Shakung, Nicholas Ndziniza from Ga-Phasha, Ncaba Ndziniza from Ga-Phasha and Hector Nyalungu from Bushbuckridge.
A Zimbabwean man known only as Lucky was also killed, and the eighth victim has not yet been identified.
Two people sustained serious injuries, while six others suffered minor ones. They were all rushed to the nearby Dilokong Hospital.
“The cause of the accident was reckless driving,” said Tidimalo Chuene, the
Limpopo Department of Transport’s spokesperson.
The Limpopo MEC for transport and community safety, Florence Radzilani, Sekhukhune District Municipality’s (SDM) mayor, Minah Bahula, and Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality’s (FTLM) mayor, Eddie Maila, sent their condolences to the deceased’s families.
On April 19, Bahula and Maila visited them. They called upon neighbours to support the affected families and urged psychosocial support to those impacted by this devastating event.
Bahula expressed deep concern about and condemned the sharing of graphic images of the tragic accident on social media. She called for restraint and sensitivity when sharing such content, especially before the affected families have been properly informed.
The families affected are still awaiting the official post-mortem reports from the authorities.
The SDM and FTLM vowed to provide support to the families as they organise the funeral arrangements.