By Mvelo Mthiyane Zondo

THE names of 43 Zimbabwean nationals who lost their lives in a tragic road accident in South Africa have been released.

The accident occurred on Sunday evening near Musina, Limpopo Province, when the vehicle they were travelling in lost control, rolled down an embankment, and landed on its roof.

The Government on Monday said it was taking all necessary to repatriate the bodies of 43 nationals, including a 10-month-old infant, who lost their lives in a bus crash on the N1 in Limpopo Province, South Africa, on Sunday evening.

Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national police spokesperson, said the country was co-ordinating all logistics through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We are doing our level best to assist the bereaved families. Co-ordination is being done by our South Africa-based officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. If the South African police require any form of assistance they do so through our Embassy.

“This is for the purposes of identification and notification of relatives in Zimbabwe. We are monitoring the situation and ready to assist where necessary,” said Commissioner Nyathi.

According to earlier reports by South Africa’s Provincial Transport MEC, Violet Mathye, the bus was carrying passengers travelling to Zimbabwe and Malawi from Port Elizabeth, en route from Gqeberha in Port Elizabeth to Harare and then onward to Malawi when it crashed after driving through barriers at a sharp curve.

The accident occurred near Ingwe Lodge, just outside Musina. The N1 remains closed as forensic teams and police investigators comb the scene.