South Africa bus crash kills 45 Easter pilgrims


Mona Farag
  • English
  • Arabic

At least 45 people were killed in South Africa when a bus carrying Easter pilgrims plunged off a bridge on Thursday.

An eight-year-old girl survived the crash in the north-eastern province of Limpopo, South Africa's Department of Transport said. She suffered serious injuries and is being treated in hospital.

The driver lost control of the bus on a mountain pass near Mamatlakala. The vehicle dropped about 50 metres and caught fire after hitting the ground.

The bus was taking Easter pilgrims from Botswana to the town of Moria, in Limpopo.

South Africa's government often issues public messages about road safety during the Easter holidays, a particularly busy and dangerous time for travel in the country. More than 200 people died in crashes during the Easter weekend last year.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent his condolences to Botswana and pledged support to the country, his office said in a statement.

The provincial government said many of the of bodies were burnt beyond recognition and remained inside the vehicle.

South Africa's Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said an investigation into the crash was under way and offered her condolences to the families of the victims.

The Zionist Christian Church has its headquarters in Moria and its Easter pilgrimage attracts hundreds of thousands of people from across South Africa and neighbouring countries, AP reported.

This is the first year the Easter pilgrimage to Moria has been held since the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania ​​​​​​​
Verdict: 4 Stars

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Date of launch: November 2018

Founder: Monark Modi

Based: Business Bay, Dubai

Sector: Financial services

Size: Eight employees

Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings

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  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
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RESULTS
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Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1

Tickets: Admission is free

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Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace

Rating: 2/5

Liverpool's all-time goalscorers

Ian Rush 339
Roger Hunt 280
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 225
Billy Liddell 220

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The biog

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Hobbies: Reading and writing

 

Updated: March 29, 2024, 12:13 PM