The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo has launched a formal investigation after several bottles, believed to contain scheduled medication, were discovered at the site of a tragic bus accident on the N1 freeway near Makhado. The crash on Sunday, October 13, 2025, claimed the lives of 43 people.
Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe confirmed that the police at Makhado in the Vhembe district have opened an Inquiry docket to thoroughly investigate the discovery of the bottles.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba issued a statement highlighting the seriousness of the find, noting that the possession of certain scheduled medicines without proper authorisation is a criminal offence under Section 22A of South Africa’s Medicines and Related Substances Act.
“Legally, someone is only permitted to possess and carry the quantity of medicine you have been prescribed by an authorized prescriber. Carrying a large quantity of medicine without exception is illegal,” Colonel Ledwaba stated.
The bottles were found at the accident scene a few kilometres outside Makhado Town.
While the lawful owner of the medication has not yet been identified to explain its origin, the police inquiry aims to determine who was in possession of the drugs and why they were being carried in such large quantities.
The police have urged anyone with information, especially the lawful owner of the medication, to contact their nearest police station, use the Crime Stop line at 08600 10111, or use the MySAPS app to assist with the ongoing investigation. The discovery of the medication adds a new dimension to the already devastating bus crash inquiry.