Commuters on a Phadziri bus had a narrow escape last Thursday (24 October) when the vehicle caught fire. The bus was on its way from Louis Trichardt and had just dropped off passengers at Magau when it started burning.
Several passengers jumped from the bus to escape possible serious injuries, with some even leaping through the windows to get away from the flames. The driver also had to jump out hurriedly to escape the inferno.
A witness standing at a nearby bus stop reported seeing smoke coming from under the front wheels as the bus drove past. "We thought it was the bus's brake pads, but we could not notify the driver as he drove past. A short distance away from us, we saw smoke coming out of the bus," he added.
Mr Mathews Motau, one of the passengers, said that "just as we were about to enter Magau, we heard a loud bang, followed by heavy black smoke inside the bus." He noted that there was a commotion as everyone evacuated, but luckily no one was injured in the chaos.
Motau stated that firefighters quickly arrived at the scene, but the fire, which had spread very fast, consumed the entire bus. "I have never come across this in my life. I am still in shock, but praise God for saving us and our driver," he added.
The spokesperson for the GM Phadziri bus company, Mr Left Mabirimisa, expressed relief that no one was injured during the incident. He stated that they suspected an electrical fault.