“I Just Thank God”: Survivor Speaks Out After Horrific Limpopo Accident

• A survivor of the deadly Limpopo bus crash shared his emotional account of the accident that claimed 42 lives on the N1 highway near Makhado
• The man revealed that he was travelling from Port Elizabeth to Malawi when the bus overturned, and he's grateful to God for saving his life despite the tragedy
• Other survivors have revealed that the bus was already overloaded when it left Gqeberha, with passengers complaining about overcrowding before the journey even began

A survivor of the deadly Limpopo bus crash shared his emotional account of the accident that killed at least 42 people on Sunday evening, near Makhado. The man, who is recovering in the hospital, expressed his gratitude for surviving the tragedy that claimed so many lives.

As reported by Briefly News, the tragic accident involved a bus that was travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe and Malawi when it veered off the N1 highway near the town of Makhado in Limpopo province. The vehicle tumbled down a steep embankment and landed upside down in a ravine. Emergency crews worked through the night to pull victims from the wreckage and transport survivors to nearby hospitals.

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In a video shared by Johannesburg content creator @nabeelahshaikh on 14 October 2025, the survivor explained what had happened.

"I was travelling from Port Elizabeth to Malawi. Then by the time we reached Polokwane, the bus had turned off. We survived, but some of them lost their lives... I feel bad for that. I just thank God for saving my life. Thank you," he said.

The human toll was staggering—18 women, 17 men, and seven children were confirmed dead. A 10-month-old baby was among the victims. Six passengers remain in critical condition, 31 suffered serious injuries, and 12 sustained minor wounds. More than 30 injured passengers received medical treatment, and authorities said some people may still be trapped inside the overturned bus.

Mzansi reacts to the survivor's account

Social media users flooded the comments with messages of support and prayers for the survivor and others affected by the tragedy.

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@hutsojulimaake wrote:

"Let's take care of each other."

@helen said:

"Wow, you're blessed 💯 ❤ from today preach the gospel of Jesus ❤."

@jane_doe asked:

"Were all survivors transported to this hospital? I'm desperately looking for my nanny. She was on that bus, and we are trying to locate her."

@tripple_nje added:

"You're a living testimony."

@thamba_ledzy wrote:

"May God keep on adding many years in your life. He is the protector."

Death toll rises to 42

The N1 national road between Louis Trichardt and Musina has reopened following the tragic bus crash that claimed 42 lives. Several passengers remain hospitalised across Vhembe district facilities, including Louis Trichardt, Elim, and Siloam hospitals.

According to reports, the bus veered off the road, broke through a barrier, and plunged into a riverbed, trapping many passengers beneath the wreckage. TikToker @nabeelahshaikh shared the survivor's emotional account, highlighting the pain and loss experienced by families across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

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Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba visited survivors and the crash site, expressing condolences on behalf of the provincial government. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy. Losing so many lives in one incident is painful beyond words,” she said, extending sympathies to the affected families and wishing all survivors a full recovery.

Watch the TikTok clip here.

3 Other stories about accidents in SA

• Briefly News recently reported on a tragic vehicle crash that claimed the lives of an Eastern Cape paramedic and a patient when their ambulance overturned on the R392 near Queenstown.
• A taxi carrying schoolchildren for their first day of the new term overturned on the N3 near Durban, leaving 18 learners injured after the vehicle lost control and came to rest on its roof.
• South African music producer Chymamusique announced his return to the stage for the first time since his tragic accident, and many netizens wished him well on getting back to performing.

Source: Briefly News