Forensic examinations in South Africa have confirmed that 36 victims of last week’s fatal bus crash in Limpopo Province were Zimbabwean nationals, including seven children, the Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria has revealed.
The embassy said all the deceased have now been positively identified following a joint fingerprint-matching exercise between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), which utilised national records to confirm identities.
Charge d’Affaires Mr Shepard Gwenzi described the accident as a national tragedy that has plunged both countries into mourning.
“All post-mortem examinations and physical identifications have been completed. The process was handled with assistance from next of kin in Limpopo Province,” he said.
Mr Gwenzi said the remains will be released to Dow’s Funeral Services on 21 October for embalming ahead of repatriation to Zimbabwe. Processing of repatriation documents will be carried out at Salem Hospital in Machuari, supported by relatives of the deceased.
“This tragic incident claimed 36 Zimbabwean lives, seven of them minors. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the bereaved families,” he added.
The embassy indicated that repatriation could begin as early as Thursday, 23 October 2025, once paperwork is finalised.
Meanwhile, 12 other Zimbabwean nationals remain hospitalised in Limpopo, where they are receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the crash.
Authorities in both Harare and Pretoria have pledged continued coordination to ensure the dignified return and burial of the victims.
