On the morning of 15 November 2025, tragedy unfolded on the N8 between Botshabelo and Bloemfontein when an interstate bus collided with a heavy motor vehicle near the RRR farming area. The impact resulted in a devastating mass-casualty event, leaving 19 injured and 11 deceased on scene.
What followed was one of the most coordinated and unified emergency responses the Free State has witnessed in recent years.
Early Notification and Activation of Hospital Response
At 06:48, Dr Ilse Fourie, Head of Promed24 and clinical lead for Emergency Medicine at Busamed Bram Fischer Private Hospital, received an urgent call from Dr Elize Esterhuizen, Head of Clinical Management for the Free State.
Dr Esterhuizen informed her of the mass-casualty bus accident on the N8 and confirmed that two Priority 1 (P1) and two Priority 2 (P2) patients would need to be diverted to Busamed Bram Fischer.
Dr Fourie immediately authorised the acceptance of these patients and initiated rapid escalation procedures, mobilizing additional Promed24 doctors to ensure the Emergency Centre was staffed and prepared before the first patient arrived.
Within minutes:
This swift, organised response ensured that Busamed was fully operational and ready for any patient outcome, a critical requirement during mass-casualty incidents.
Multi-Agency On-Scene Response
The incident activated a full-scale regional response involving:
Scene Commander Mr Julius Fleischman praised the cohesion:
“Your teamwork was exceptional, and the success of this operation is a direct result of your collaboration and commitment. Each contribution was vital and a testament to the power of a united emergency services team.”
Casualty Overview
On Scene
Hospital Distribution
Patients were transported to:
Pelonomi Trauma Hospital- critically injured
Botshabelo District Hospital - soft tissue injuries
Busamed Bram Fischer Private Hospital - P2 and P3 trauma patients
Rainy conditions may have contributed to the severity of the crash.
Survivor Accounts
Polelo Mahloane, who will undergo amputation due to severe injuries, recalled:
“By the time I yelled for the driver to be careful, it was too late. The impact was severe and the pain excruciating.”
Nozipho Nhlathi, who suffered a broken leg, shared:
“I saw dead people around me… I am happy that my life was saved.”
Hospital Readiness and Execution
At Busamed:
The mass-casualty plan was activated by Mr Michael Chasaya.
ICU, AICU, and EC teams mobilised immediately.
Nursing leaders, including RN Khaukau, RN Khasec, RN Dlamini, RN Thoabala, RN Mosilili, EN Bekhulu, and ENA Lekhula restructured staffing to accommodate trauma flow.
The hospital’s internal report noted:
“Well-coordinated efforts ensured readiness for the incoming patients. The swift actions of the team demonstrated a commendable level of preparedness and emergency response capability.”
The Role of the Bloemfontein Trauma Forum & Trauma Symposium
This incident once again demonstrated the value of the Bloemfontein Trauma Forum, a collaborative platform uniting:
The Forum’s goal is to streamline mass-casualty readiness, improve inter-facility communication, and ensure coordinated trauma care across the region.
In October, just weeks prior to this incident, the Forum hosted a two-day Trauma Symposium (23–24 October) attended by paramedics, trauma surgeons, emergency doctors, nurses, EMS commanders, and operations leaders.
Key symposium topics included:
The success of the N8 mass-casualty coordination reflects the real-world impact of the Forum’s ongoing training, partnerships and readiness initiatives.
Government Leadership
The MEC for Health, Monyatso Mahlatsi, and Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae visited patients and families, praising responders and calling for greater road safety awareness.
Premier Letsoha-Mathae said:
“I want to thank the medical professionals at Pelonomi and Busamed for taking such good care of those who sustained injuries.”
Interstate Bus Lines Statement
Interstate Bus Lines confirmed:
They expressed condolences and support for all victims.
Honoring All First Responders
We acknowledge the remarkable commitment of:
Your actions prevented further loss of life and ensured the best possible outcomes in the face of tragedy.
In Unity, We Saved Lives
The N8 tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly disaster can strike, but it is also a powerful testament to the strength of collaboration within the Free State emergency-care ecosystem.
To every individual who stood in service on 15 November 2025:
Your courage and professionalism truly made the difference.
