TWO PASSENGERS KILLED INSIDE A BUS ROBBERY ON THE N1 NORTH

TWO PASSENGERS KILLED INSIDE A BUS ROBBERY ON THE N1 NORTH.

Two men boarded on the bus and disguised themselves as passengers only to later pull out guns to rob the actual passengers in the bus.

This took place  Inside a Bus on the N1 Near Nyl Plaza. Read the full article to check if your loved ones where not on the bus on the 09th of October 2025.

A cross-border bus trip turned into a nightmare on Wednesday night when two passengers pulled out guns and opened fire inside a moving bus on the N1 highway near the Nyl Plaza tollgate in Limpopo. The 60-seater bus, which had departed from Randfontein and made stops in Midrand and Pretoria on its way to Zimbabwe, was carrying about 54 passengers when the chaos unfolded just before 10 p.m.

According to police, two men who had been sitting quietly at the back of the bus suddenly stood up, drew firearms, and pointed them at other passengers. Panic broke out as the armed men demanded money and valuables. A male passenger, believed to be around 30 years old, bravely attempted to disarm one of the attackers. Several other passengers also tried to help, but the confrontation turned deadly. The suspects fired multiple shots inside the crowded bus, fatally wounding the 30-year-old man and a young woman estimated to be about 25 years old.

After the shooting, the armed robbers allegedly collected cash, phones, and handbags from terrified passengers before fleeing in a getaway vehicle that had been trailing the bus. The driver, a 42-year-old Zimbabwean national, managed to pull the bus over safely as the wounded passengers lay bleeding inside. Witnesses described the scene as “pure horror” — screams, shattered glass, and chaos everywhere.

Police in Limpopo have launched a massive manhunt for the suspects, opening cases of murder and armed robbery. Investigators are working around the clock to trace the gunmen and their accomplices. Authorities are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage from the N1 near Nyl Plaza between 21:30 and 22:00 that night to come forward.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released, but police say the male victim was seated near the back of the bus while the female victim was close to the aisle. Their bodies were taken to a local government mortuary as investigations continue.

Passengers who survived the ordeal said the two suspects appeared calm throughout the journey until they suddenly turned violent. “They didn’t even look suspicious,” said one shaken traveller. “We were laughing and chatting. Then, in a blink, there were gunshots. People were screaming and hiding under seats.”

Images and videos of the aftermath have been circulating online, showing paramedics at the scene and shocked passengers being interviewed by police. Authorities have urged the public not to share graphic content out of respect for the victims’ families.

This horrifying attack raises new concerns about safety on cross-border and long-distance buses. Criminals have increasingly targeted late-night routes, knowing that passengers often carry cash, phones, and passports. Many commuters have since called for tighter security checks, better lighting at rest stops, and stronger police patrols along the N1 corridor — one of South Africa’s busiest transport routes.

While the motive remains robbery, police are also investigating whether the attack was premeditated, given that a vehicle was reportedly following the bus before the shooting began. Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that a dedicated task team has been formed to hunt down the killers and bring them to justice.

As the investigation unfolds, families of those on board wait anxiously for updates. What was supposed to be a simple trip home for many ended in tragedy — another reminder of how fragile safety has become on South Africa’s highways.

For many South Africans, stories like this no longer sound like distant headlines — they feel personal. Almost everyone knows someone who travels at night chasing work, school, or family across provinces and borders. Yet with each new report of shootings, robberies, or ambushes, the fear grows heavier. What happened near Nyl Plaza is more than a crime story; it’s a painful reflection of how unsafe our journeys have become. Inside that dark bus, people were just trying to get home — to see loved ones, to cross borders for a better life — but two guns changed everything in seconds. Until there’s stronger protection for ordinary travellers, every night drive will carry the same unspoken prayer: *“God, let me reach safely.”*

If you were near the N1 tollgate that night or have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Mokopane Police Station or call Crime Stop anonymously on 08600 10111.