An eight-year-old girl survived a bus crush that claimed the lives of 45 people who were travelling to the St. Engenas ZCC Easter conference from Gaborone, Botswana yesterday. The shocking accident happened near Mmamatlakala, between Mokopane and Marken in Limpopo where the bus fell off a cliff and caught fire.

Limpopo department of transport spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene confirmed that only one child, an eight-year-old, survived the accident and is receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital. "According to reports, the driver lost control, and the bus fell onto a rocky surface, some 50-metres under the bridge and caught fire. Rescue operations continued until the late hours of yesterday evening, as some bodies were burned beyond recognition, others trapped inside the debris and others scattered on the scene," Chuene said. Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and Limpopo Transport MEC Florence Radzilani were conducting a road safety operation at the Kranskop Toll Plaza when they received the devastating news and visited the crash scene yesterday. 

Chuene also said the bus has a Botswana registration number and a process to confirm the citizenship of the victims will only commence after the foreign missions of both South Africa and Botswana have verified their citizenships. "The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will facilitate necessary interventions with the Botswana government to assist the families of the deceased," she said. Chikhunga has sent her condolences to the families of the deceased. "Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We continue to urge responsible driving at all times with heightened alertness as more people are on our roads this Easter weekend," she said. Chikunga also said that the department will make a thorough investigation into the accident. MEC for Health in Limpopo Dr Phophi Ramathuba has been dispatched to assist the only surviving passenger whilst the department of social development will provide necessary psycho-social support.