Zim GBC News | Gender and Community
BULAWAYO – A routine Delta bus journey from Johannesburg to Bulawayo was transformed into a scene of terror in a coordinated armed ambush on Wednesday night, leaving two passengers dead and scores robbed and injured.
The attack occurred near the fourth tollgate out of Johannesburg. According to survivors, some of the assailants had initially boarded the bus as passengers before launching a brutal, well-orchestrated assault hours into the trip.
Survivor Charmaine Linda Mbatha, her head bandaged from the attack, recounted the harrowing details at the Delta Bus offices in Bulawayo.
“They were ruthless. They were armed with pistols and metal bars that looked like spanners,” Mbatha said
“They beat people, shouting for us to hand over money and phones. Before taking my R20,000 and my iPhone, one of them smashed the side of my head with his pistol.”
Her testimony took a more tragic turn as she described witnessing the cold-blooded murder of a fellow passenger.
“That man never resisted. He trembled as he showed them his empty wallet. One of the robbers pushed him to the ground and shot him three times. He died right there.”
The victims were identified as Judge Malamba Ncube and a woman travelling with her two young daughters, one of whom lives with a disability. The mother was reportedly caught in the crossfire.
Another survivor, who requested anonymity, described the military-like precision of the operation. After the attackers fled with all valuables, the driver managed to get the bus to the next tollgate to alert authorities.
The tragedy has reignited urgent concerns over the escalating crime targeting cross-border public transport, turning essential travel routes into high-risk zones for passengers who risk not only their belongings but their lives.
Follow Zim GBC News on Social Media:
· X (Twitter): @ZimGbc
· Instagram: @ZimGBCNews
· TikTok: @ZimGBCNews_01
· Facebook: Zim GBC News
· YouTube: Zim GBC News
Get real-time alerts on WhatsApp:
+263 773 820 323
For in-depth coverage, visit our website: www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
Zim GBC News | Global News From An African Perspective©2025