Terror on the Road: Two Killed, Dozens Robbed in Night of Horror on Johannesburg-Bulawayo Bus
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe – October 12, 2025,
Tears, trembling voices, and vacant stares told the story before words could. What was meant to be a routine cross-border journey turned into a night of horror for passengers aboard a Delta Bus travelling from Johannesburg to Bulawayo on Wednesday night, when armed men ambushed the vehicle in a deadly robbery that left two people dead and scores traumatised.
The incident reportedly occurred near the fourth tollgate out of Johannesburg, on the N1 highway in Limpopo Province, when a group of armed men, some posing as ordinary passengers, turned their weapons on the unsuspecting travelers. Witnesses said the attackers were ruthless, firing shots inside the packed bus and beating passengers as they demanded money, phones, and other valuables.
“They were armed with pistols and metal bars that looked like spanners,” recounted survivor Charmaine Linda Mbatha, speaking from the Delta Bus offices in Bulawayo, her head wrapped in bandages. “They shot people for refusing to give money. I thought I would die.”
Two passengers were reportedly killed in cold blood, among them Judge Malamba, a 31-year-old Zimbabwean returning home for a family ceremony. According to witnesses, Malamba tried to confront one of the assailants and was gunned down. Another young woman, believed to be in her twenties, was shot in the chaos that followed.
Passengers described a harrowing scene of gunfire, screaming, and blood, as the bus turned into a moving battleground. After the attackers fled with bags of stolen cash and belongings, the terrified driver sped to the nearest tollgate to raise the alarm. Emergency services later confirmed the fatalities and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
The ordeal did not end there. Survivors, many reported to have been stripped of their money and mobile phones, spent over 30 hours without food or water before finally arriving in Bulawayo. At the Delta Bus depot, emotional scenes unfolded as relatives broke down upon seeing their loved ones step off the bus, shaken, bruised, and broken.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has since reportedly launched a manhunt for the suspects, with Limpopo provincial authorities confirming that cases of murder and armed robbery have been opened. Police say the attackers may have boarded the bus at different pickup points in Johannesburg and Pretoria before launching the assault mid-route.
The attack has reignited concern over cross-border passenger safety, as reports of robberies and assaults on long-distance buses between South Africa and Zimbabwe continue to rise. Families of victims have also accused the bus company of poor communication and slow response during the crisis.
“They were left without help for hours,” said one relative outside the Bulawayo depot. “We didn’t even know who was alive.”
Authorities from both countries have been urged to step up security along major transport corridors, particularly on night routes frequently used by migrant workers and traders.
As investigations continue, the Delta Bus tragedy stands as a grim reminder of the growing dangers on southern Africa’s highways, where what begins as a journey home can end in blood and heartbreak.
