Break down bus forces 20 Malawians to spend three weeks in Benoni: woman gives birth to twins

More than 20 Malawian nationals‚ including a seven month old baby‚ have been stuck in a broken bus for three weeks in Benoni‚ Gauteng.

According Timeslive of South Africa, the passengers were on their way to Malawi from Randburg when the bus they were travelling in started experiencing mechanical failures and then broke down.

Ward 28 councillor Mary Goby said the passengers left Randburg on May 12 before their bus broke down on Marlboro Road‚ along the N3 where they slept on the bus for three days.

“They then took the bus to Diepsloot were they paid to get it fixed and back on the road. They travelled for a few more days until the bus broke down again and was towed to Tom Jones Road in Benoni‚ where they are currently‚” Goby said.

She said officials from the Malawian Embassy and the South African Department of Home Affairs are currently at the scene and helping the stranded passengers with their paperwork so that they can cross the border.

“Some of them have documents which expired just a few days after their bus broke down so now they can’t leave the country without proper documents. Officials are here to help them.”

Goby added that the process might take another week to complete before the passengers can head to Malawi.

Another passenger gave birth to twins on the bus on Wednesday.

Emergency service Emer-G-Med said: “A lady went into labour and CMS’ paramedic vehicle had to help with the delivery. Turns out there were twins! The two were delivered safely and were transported with their mother to hospital.”

Community members and supermarkets have been roped in to help the passengers with food‚ clothing and The Salvation Army has opened its facility for the passengers’ ablutions