The death toll from the horrific Limpopo head-on collision on the N1 has climbed to 21. Twenty people died on the scene when a bus they were travelling in and a cash-in-transit van collided head on on Monday afternoon. The bus rolled off the bridge into the river leaving 68 other people injured.

DEATH TOLL RISES

While 20 people died on Monday, one more person died in hospital on Tuesday after the injured were taken to various hospitals in the Vhembe district. The accident happened just before the Hendrik Verwoerd tunnels on the N1 north outside Makhado towards Musina. Of the 68 injured, 10 passengers are reported to have sustained serious injuries, sixteen escaped with moderate injuries, while 35 sustained minor injuries.  The passengers were mostly commuters returning home after work.

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATED

Spokesperson for the department of Transport in Limpopo, Tidimalo Chuene said that the cause of the accident was being investigated. "According to reports, a truck that was overtaking another vehicle lost control and collided with the bus. The bus fell into a bridge, and 19 people died on the scene. One other person died in hospital the same day and the other on Tuesday,' Chuene said. Chuene added that police divers were dispatched to the scene, to verify that no one has been swept by the river.

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA SENDS CONDOLENCES

President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the families of the deceased. In a statement, President Ramaphosa said: "As compatriots, we are deeply saddened when we experience such a loss of life on our roads. Incidents like this impact severely on families who lose loved ones as well on survivors or witnesses who are affected physically or psychologically when such tragedy happens. We must all do what we can to travel safely while we treat our roads as a shared amenity, which they are,' he said. The president added that  prayers go out to the families, friends and colleagues of those who have perished, he also wished the injured speedy recovery.

Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety Florence Radzilana and Deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga will on Wednesday visit the families of the deceased.