Five people were tragically killed on Monday afternoon when a bus overturned on the R33 Road between eMkhondo and Amsterdam. The accident happened on 1 December 2025 after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn.

According to authorities, six passengers sustained serious injuries, while 20 others suffered minor injuries. The driver is among those injured. Emergency services transported all injured passengers to a nearby hospital in Mkhondo.

Initial reports suggested that the bus was carrying more than 80 passengers; however, officials have clarified that the passenger list recorded 65 people when it departed Johannesburg. Some travellers disembarked along the route, and only 31 passengers, including the driver, were on board at the time of the crash.

Although the cause of the crash is still under investigation, wet weather conditions are suspected to have contributed to the tragic incident.

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr Jackie Macie, has urged motorists to adjust their driving according to prevailing road conditions, especially during wet weather.

“Every driver must prioritise their own safety and that of other road users. Let us save lives by being highly alert and obeying the rules. Long-distance drivers must rest sufficiently along the way,” said Macie.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.