More than 20 mine workers tragically lost their lives in an accident outside Musina, Limpopo yesterday. Reports state that the deceased worked at the Venetia Mine and 18 of the victims were employees of Murray & Roberts. They were on their way to work when their bus collided with a truck.

The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety spokesperson Vongani Chauke said two of the 24 deceased were women. "A bus ferrying employees of the Venetia Mine was involved in an accident, on the afternoon of Sunday, 17 September. The people lost their lives when a bus crashed into a cash-in-transit truck on the N1- 29 Mashovhela, towards Musina in Vhembe District," Chauke said. The accident involved a bus that was transporting passengers from Makhado Town to areas around Nzhelele, Siloam and Tshikombani, in the Vhembe District.

Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Florence Radzilani joined by the Mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Godfrey Mawela and the senior management members of the Venetia Mine visited the scene of the accident this morning. "The MEC will use the visit to ascertain facts around the accident and pay a courtesy visit to the patients in hospital." ER24 spokesperson, Ross Campbell, said most of the fatalities had been trapped under the bus and they were able to retrieve 19 bodies from the scene on the spot. Murray & Roberts group investor and media executive Ed Jardim offered condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones. "Our focus is on providing the necessary support to our employees and their families during this very difficult time. The incident is under investigation and further details will be provided at a later stage,' he said.