Polokwane authorities stopped a Malawi-bound bus on the N1 bypass adjacent to Peter Mokaba Stadium on Thursday morning after spotting severe overloading.
The 65-seater bus was carrying 117 people, including one driver, 101 passengers, and 15 minors, exceeding its legal capacity by 52 passengers. The vehicle became immobilised a short distance from the Polokwane weighbridge while being redirected to the Provincial Traffic Control Centre (PTCC).
During the stop, the driver attempted to flee but was quickly intercepted, restrained, and arrested by members of the South African Police Service and Limpopo traffic officers. The bus will remain at the PTCC until excess passengers are offloaded and the prescribed fine is paid. Further investigations are ongoing.
Limpopo transport officials said the bus had travelled from Gauteng, raising questions about how it passed festive roadblocks without detection. The interception occurs amid intensified road safety enforcement during the holiday travel period.
The incident recalls a similar tragedy on the N1 in October, when an overloaded bus carrying mostly Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals veered off the road near Louis Trichardt, killing 43 passengers and injuring 40 others. Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba described the crash as “a preventable disaster” caused by negligence and lawlessness in the cross-border transport sector.
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