Gunmen Open Fire Inside Joburg–Zimbabwe Bus, Killing Two In Heartless Robbery

A tragic scene unfolded on the N1 freeway in Limpopo when armed men opened fire inside a cross-border bus travelling from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe, killing two passengers and robbing others.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night, shortly before 10 pm, about eight kilometres before the Nyl Plaza tollgate in Mokopane, under the Waterberg District.

Images circulating on social media show a blood-soaked bus interior, with one photo depicting a child clinging to her deceased mother’s body. Another image shows the body of a male victim as emergency medical teams surrounded the vehicle.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the tragedy, saying, “Reports indicate that the complainant, a 42-year-old bus driver from Zimbabwe, had departed from the Power House (bus station in Johannesburg) driving a Volvo 60-seater bus with 54 passengers on board. The driver had picked up passengers at various points, including Midrand and Pretoria en route to Zimbabwe.”

Chaos Erupts as Passengers Try to Fight Back

According to police, the violence began when two male passengers seated at the back suddenly pulled out firearms and aimed them at fellow travellers.

“One male passenger, aged around 30, whose identity is not yet known, attempted to disarm one of the assailants, while several others also tried to intervene,” Ledwaba said.

“During the struggle, the suspects fired several shots inside the bus, fatally wounding the 30-year-old male passenger and an unknown female, estimated to be 25 years old.”

After the shooting, the attackers reportedly robbed passengers of an undisclosed amount of money and cellphones before escaping.

Police Launch Massive Manhunt for Bus Attackers

Authorities believe the suspects had accomplices travelling in another vehicle that was following the bus. “An unknown vehicle — whose make, model, and registration number are not yet known — stopped behind the bus after the shooting. The attackers fled from the bus, entered the vehicle, and sped away from the scene,” said Ledwaba.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has opened cases of two counts of murder and armed robbery. No arrests have yet been made.

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Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has condemned the attack and ordered the formation of a specialised task team to track down those responsible.

“Anyone with information that can assist in the apprehension of the suspects is urged to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Matsipi Makwela, on 076 786 1447; the Crime Stop number, 08600 10111; the nearest police station; or use the MySAPS App,” police said.

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