Limpopo police have opened an inquiry following the discovery of several bottles of medication at the scene of the horrific N1 bus crash that claimed the lives of more than 40 people.
The deadly tragedy unfolded on Sunday, October 12, when a cross-border bus carrying 91 passengers from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe plunged off the treacherous Zoutpansberg mountain pass near Louis Trichardt.
The crash left a trail of devastation, in which 43 people were killed, while dozens of others sustained injuries, some critical.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said authorities in Makhado, Vhembe district, have launched an inquiry following the discovery of what appeared to be bottles of medication scattered at the crash site.
“The discovery of the bottles that appear to be medication were found on the accident scene along N1 few kilometers outside Makhado Town.”
Ledwaba stated that Section 22A of the Medicine and Related Substances Act in South Africa makes it a crime to possess certain scheduled medicines without authorization.
“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,” he said.
Ledwaba further stated that, at this stage, the rightful owner of the bottles has not yet been identified, and the origin of the medication remains unclear.
“For now, the lawful owner of the bottles has not been established, and we are still trying to determine their origin. In the meantime, the police have opened an inquiry for further investigation.”
Police have also appealed to the public, urging anyone who may know the owner of the medication, or the lawful owner themselves, to come forward to the nearest police or use the toll-free number 08600 10111 or my SAPS app.
The Star
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