BLOEMFONTEIN – The N8 crash involving an Interstate Bus Line (IBL) vehicle and a privately-owned truck between Botshabelo and Bloemfontein on Saturday 15 November is the third large-scale incident here in the last eight years. The number of deceased from the latest accident exceeds those in 2017 and 2022 − in which eight and nine passengers were killed, respectively.
The confirmed death toll is 11, after one person who was admitted to the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) succumbed to her injuries on Monday. She was among six people with severe injuries admitted for medical treatment at this state hospital in Bloemfontein.
The accident reportedly occurred at approximately 06:35 near the RRR farming area. The incident resulted in the closure of the two lanes heading into Bloemfontein. The bus involved has been confirmed as number 4075. It was coming from Botshabelo, heading to Bloemfontein.
Gopolang Monnatlale, IBL’s stakeholder relations officer, confirmed that five survivors with serious injuries were still at the hospital, while the bus driver was in a stable condition at the Bram Fischer Busamed Hospital. He said two persons admitted at the private hospital were due to be discharged.
Monnatlale confirmed the 21 survivors treated for minor injuries at the Botshabelo Regional Hospital were already released on Saturday. He said by Tuesday, nine families had identified the deceased at the state mortuary, adding that the bus company’s management was in constant contact with affected families.
Monnatlale said the company would continue visiting survivors currently hospitalised to follow up on their progress towards recovery.
The truck driver was among the survivors treated at the Busamed private hospital in Bloemfontein.
Our hearts, our prayers, and the full might of our
provincial services are with the victims and their families during this unimaginable time. − Free State Premier Maqueen
Letsoha-Mathae
While a police investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the accident, bad driving is suspected and is partly blamed, in addition to the conditions of the road in question.
Jabu Mbalula, MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, pointed out that the weather conditions on the fateful day did not impact the visibility of motorists.
“At this stage we do not know for sure what the cause of the accident is. The investigators will tell us what the cause is upon conclusion of their investigation. The road where the accident happened is driveable.”
Mbalula’s comment followed his visit to the accident scene together with Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae. The provincial government has conveyed condolences to the affected families.
“Each life lost on our roads is not just a statistic; it is a beloved mother, a father, a breadwinner, a friend, a vital thread in our social fabric torn away. A loss of life is a loss of both a support structure and loved ones, leaving behind wounds in families and communities that will take a lifetime to heal,” said Letsoha-Mathae.
“Our hearts, our prayers, and the full might of our provincial services are with the victims and their families during this unimaginable time.”
■ The fatal crash between an IBL bus and a truck on 10 November 2022 claimed nine passengers from Thaba Nchu and left some with long-term injuries. It was reported that 71 commuters had boarded the 80-seater bus, which was travelling from Zone 5 in Thaba Nchu to Bloemfontein. The accident reportedly occurred at about 06:30 on the fateful day. According to preliminary findings, human error was suspected as the cause of this accident. The truck driver reportedly attempted to overtake another vehicle when it was unsafe to do so.
■ In the accident on 3 July 2017, eight passengers from Botshabelo died. It happened when the 114-seater bus rear-ended a stationary truck at about 06:00 near the Mandela View settlement, which is 20km outside Bloemfontein. The commuters on board were from Section W. The crash left 51 people with severe injuries, while 32 escaped unharmed. It emerged that the stationary truck was left unattended and had not been removed overnight after its engine stopped running.
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