Limpopo Home Affairs officials say a Malawian man died en route to a port of entry after becoming ill on a deportation bus convoy that later turned back to Musina.
Image: BHEKI RADEBE/ ANA Pictures
A Malawian national has died after falling ill while being transported on a bus from the Musina Temporary Repatriation Centre to Zimbabwe and Malawi, Limpopo Home Affairs officials have confirmed.
Limpopo Home Affairs head Albert Matsaung said the buses had been loaded at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Centre between midday and early afternoon, and had been prepared the previous day before departure.
He said the buses were earmarked for Zimbabwe and Malawi as part of the repatriation process.
He said the bus was en route to a port of entry when the man fell ill.
Matsaung said the incident occurred after one of the buses had already left the centre and travelled about 15 kilometres before turning back when a passenger became ill.
"We were here at the centre up until I think 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock. There are buses that we loaded yesterday," he said.
He said the driver returned after noticing that a passenger on board had fallen ill.
"One of the bus drivers came back. I think he turned around 15 kilometres away from the centre," Matsaung said.
He said information from the driver and passengers indicated that the man began feeling unwell during the journey.
"The information that we received from the bus driver and from the people that were with the deceased person is that he just said, 'I'm feeling hot, temperatures are up.' Then he took off his shirt, and then from there he collapsed," he said.
Matsaung said the bus returned to the centre, where emergency services and police were called to the scene.
"That is where the emergency services were called, and that is where the police also came to do what they are supposed to do," he said.
He said the exact cause of death has not yet been determined and will be investigated by health authorities.
"Do we know circumstances regarding their death? No, no, we don't," he said.
He added that emergency services confirmed the man had died and was a Malawian national.
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