Limpopo Premier, Phophi Ramathuba says fatigue may have been the cause of the bus crash that claimed 42 lives on the N1, near Louis Trichardt. The vehicle overturned and rolled down an embankment after bus driver allegedly lost control on Sunday.

Those injured have been admitted to various hospitals in the Vhembe District.

The bus was travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, en route to Zimbabwe and Malawi.

The road has been partially reopened for traffic. Ramathuba says a preliminary report on the cause of the accident will be released within 48 hours.

“Officials from the traffic department have got RTMC, they have already started with the work of investigating, and they have reassured us that within the next 48 hours, they will be giving us a preliminary report. The fact that the bus was travelling from PE up to towards Harare, you can’t rule out fatigue, you can’t rule it out, even if there are probably two drivers.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo is calling on the Transport Department to increase the visibility of traffic officers on the roads to ensure safety.

DA’s Marie Helm says they are saddened by the multiple fatalities.

“This tragic accident highlights the need for increased road safety, visibility and efficacy of traffic law enforcement on our roads over the upcoming holiday season. The DA calls for an investigation of accidents on the mountain passes in Limpopo to prevent the frequent accidents, which often result in loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the deceased during this very difficult time and hope that the injured make a complete recovery.”

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Provincial Transport Department spokesperson Tshifhiwa Dali says recovery efforts from the wreckage are still continuing.

VIDEO | The families of the deceased say they are shattered by the deaths