In a dramatic and seemingly unbelievable incident captured on social media, a Zimbabwean cross-border bus fully loaded with suspected illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, known as Sable Class, engaged in a daring escape from the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) on the N1 south.
The heart-pounding 2-minute and 19-seconds video footage, filmed by a passenger on the bus, showcases a high-stakes pursuit with beacons flashing and the TMPD car’s siren blaring.
In the video, the tenacious traffic officer attempts to bring the bus to a halt, but the skilled bus driver adeptly dodges to the other lane, maintaining a high-speed chase.
Wild Chase Ends in Crash as Zimbabwean Bus Refuses to Stop for Police on the N1
Chase video on linkhttps://t.co/iWeEVfUxHq pic.twitter.com/gMjM09r07Z— SA Trucker (@rsa_trucker) January 22, 2024
As the tension escalates, the bus executes daring maneuvers, overtaking a trucker who, upon realizing the unfolding chase, decides to join in and support the efforts of the traffic cops.
Passengers on the Sable Class bus enthusiastically rally behind their driver, urging him to press on and evade the pursuing police. Amidst the cheers, one passenger can be heard encouraging the bus driver to “push it off the road,” as the chase unfolds with adrenaline-fueled intensity.
The climax of the chase arrives as the TMPD car, in collaboration with the trucker, successfully slows down the Sable Class bus and forces it to a stop. Despite the apprehension, passengers continue to support their driver, advising him to reverse and make a swift escape from the clutches of the law enforcement officers.
In a subsequent video depicting the aftermath of the pursuit, the TMPD car’s front bumper is visibly mangled, providing evidence of the high-speed chase’s intensity and the determination of the bus driver to elude capture.
The incident raises questions about the circumstances leading to such a daring escape and the lengths individuals may go to in order to evade law enforcement.
This jaw-dropping episode on the N1 south serves as a vivid reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes chaotic nature of events on the road, leaving spectators and social media users astounded by the audacity displayed in this extraordinary encounter between a cross-border bus and the Tshwane Metro Police.
The TMPD spokesperson, Isaac Mahamba, said that the bus was flagged down for a routine inspection at the R21 highway, but the driver ignored the signal and sped off.
He said that the police followed the bus for about 15 kilometers, until they managed to stop it near the OR Tambo International Airport. He said that the police found 65 passengers on board, most of whom did not have any travel documents.
He said that the driver was arrested and charged with reckless and negligent driving, failing to stop for the police, and transporting illegal immigrants. He said that the passengers were handed over to the Department of Home Affairs for verification and deportation.
Mahamba said that the TMPD was concerned about the increasing number of cross-border buses that break the law and endanger the public. He said that the TMPD would intensify its operations to clamp down on these buses and ensure that they comply with the regulations.