Fatal bus accidents in South Africa have climbed to a five-year high, reigniting concerns about road safety, operator accountability and passenger protection as personal injury claims continue to rise.
According to Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) data, buses were involved in 323 fatal crashes over a five-year period, resulting in 487 deaths.
“Bus crashes are particularly devastating because of the sheer number of people affected in a single incident,” says Kirstie Haslam, partner at DSC Attorneys. “When safety fails on public transport, the consequences are often catastrophic and long-lasting.”
Recent crashes highlight worsening trend
The spike is underscored by a series of major bus crashes over the past year:
In October 2025, an overloaded bus veered off the N1 in Limpopo, plunging down an embankment and killing at least 42 passengers, including a 10-month-old infant, with dozens more injured.
In March 2025, 16 people died…
.jpg "Three killed in a crash on the N1-24 at Engen Garage involving a Quantum Mini Bus coming from Gauteng")
