“Be Well-Mannered Guests”: Cabinet’s Caution to Foreign Nationals After Limpopo Bus Crash

South Africans are once again grappling with questions of accountability, public health, and border control after a tragic bus crash in Limpopo left 42 people dead and uncovered a chilling discovery boxes of anti-retroviral (ARV) medication among the wreckage.

The bus, reportedly carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals on its way from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe, veered off the N1 highway earlier this week. While rescue workers combed through the wreckage, authorities found several boxes of ARV medication and other prescription drugs, raising suspicions of medical smuggling across the border.

Cabinet Responds With A Firm Message

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing in Pretoria, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni described the situation as “deeply concerning.” She confirmed that a full-scale investigation has been launched to determine how government-issued medicines ended up at the crash site.

“Cabinet calls on foreign nationals to be well-mannered guests in South Africa,” Ntshavheni said, adding that the discovery undermines efforts to rebuild trust between foreign nationals and local communities, particularly within the public healthcare system.

Her comments allude to ongoing tensions in clinics and hospitals where South Africans have accused some foreign nationals of accessing state-funded medicine unlawfully. “The proof that confirms brazen theft of medicines from government clinics does not assist efforts to restore conditions for foreign nationals to access public health care,” she added.

A Tense Backdrop

This call comes against a broader backdrop of strained relations between locals and migrant communities. In recent years, anti-immigrant sentiment has flared up in parts of South Africa, with service delivery frustrations often spilling over into xenophobic rhetoric.

The discovery of government-issued medication at the site of an international bus crash has reignited old debates: how porous are South Africa’s borders, and are foreign nationals being unfairly targeted or rightly scrutinized?

Social media users have been divided. Some called the minister’s comments “fair and necessary,” arguing that respect for laws is a universal expectation. Others accused Cabinet of fanning xenophobic flames, saying that tragic accidents shouldn’t be politicized.

What Happens Next

Authorities have yet to confirm whether the ARV medication was stolen from public clinics or obtained through legitimate means. The investigation is expected to involve both South African and Zimbabwean officials, given the cross-border nature of the incident.

Meanwhile, Cabinet’s message serves as both a caution and a reminder that South Africa’s hospitality toward migrants depends on mutual respect and adherence to the law.

As Ntshavheni put it, rebuilding trust between local communities and foreign nationals “takes effort,” and the misuse of public health resources only makes that harder.

{Source:EWN}

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