Malawian Bus Crash Survivor Recounts Final Terrifying Moments Before Fatal Limpopo Accident
- Several people were left dead after an accident involving a Malawian bus on the N1 near Makhado in Limpopo on 7 May 2026
- The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety confirmed that the bus was travelling from Malawi to Gauteng
- A survivor of the crash, Isaac Gisali, shared details about the journey into South Africa and what led to the fatal crash
Source: Twitter
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
LIMPOPO – A survivor of a bus crash on the N1 near Makhado has shed more light on what happened minutes before the fatal accident.
Isaac Gisali, a Kenyan national, was one of the 61 passengers on board a Malawian bus travelling towards Gauteng. The bus crashed near the Witvlag turn-off outside Makhado, leaving several passengers dead.
The exact number of fatalities is still to be confirmed, but the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety confirmed that 22 people sustained serious injuries.
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Survivor details final moments before accident
In a video which has since surfaced on social media, Gisali provided more details about the trip from Malawi to South Africa. He said that just after Musina, the brakes failed near a tunnel, but the driver got out and was able to fix the problem.
Gisali added that near the second tunnel, the brakes failed again, and because it was so dark, the driver could not find a place to try to stop the vehicle.
He could not do so, and the bus ultimately crashed into a ditch on the N1 on Thursday, 7 April 2026. Investigations into the crash are ongoing.
South Africans react to the accident
Social media users weighed in on the crash, and while some made light of the fact that it was foreigners involved, others noted how tragic it was.
Anderson Anday Mwale said:
“Some of us are taking this as a joke, but it's not funny. We are talking about people’s lives here. Let’s put whatever aside and think of the families who have lost their loved ones. Remember the dancing of a madman at the market; it's interesting when he is not your family member.”
Reabetswe Makitla added:
“As much as foreigners are a huge issue in our country, it’s still inhumane to celebrate their deaths. But I guess we come from different backgrounds and families — some people were raised without compassion, and through their actions they expose themselves.”
Bethuel Ntlhane stated:
“Very sad. May their souls rest in peace. Condolences to their respective families.”
Eltrair Mbendera said:
“No matter how badly you hate someone, celebrating their death is not good. That's pure witchcraft. May their souls rest in peace, and may their families find peace.”
Nkosinathi Mdluli noted:
“Eish, this is the second bus to Malawi that has been involved in an accident in the space of a week. The other one that was involved in an accident was in Zimbabwe, and 17 people died, and the others are in the hospital.”
Eight killed in KwaZulu-Natal bus crash
In a related article, a bus plummeted down a steep embankment on the N2 in KwaZulu-Natal, killing eight people.
Briefly News reported that the horrific crash took place on 9 March 2025 in Mandeni, leaving 80 people injured.
It was reported that a burst tyre was the cause of the horrific crash that claimed the life of a toddler as well.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
