Aaron Motsoaledi Pledges Assistance After Zimbabwean Mother & Son Die In Limpopo Crash
Aaron Motsoaledi Pledges Assistance After Zimbabwean Mother & Son Die In Limpopo Crash – South Africa’s Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has reportedly pledged to assist with the repatriation of a Zimbabwean mother and her infant son who died in a tragic road accident involving his official vehicle near Bela-Bela in Limpopo Province.
The victims, identified as Beauty Shoperai and her one-year-old son, Paul Masunda Junior, lost their lives on Saturday, 9 May 2026, after they were struck by a vehicle transporting the minister along the N1 highway. Reports indicate that the tragic incident occurred shortly after Beauty’s husband, Paul Masunda, had allegedly died in a separate accident nearby.
Family members reportedly said they require approximately R75,000, equivalent to about US$4,100, to transport the bodies back to Zimbabwe for burial in Jerera.
According to reports, Motsoaledi visited the grieving family on Friday together with officials from South Africa’s Department of Health, where he assured them that efforts would be made to help facilitate the repatriation process.
The heartbreaking sequence of events has left relatives and members of the Zimbabwean community deeply shocked. Reports suggest that Beauty Shoperai had been travelling with her husband and their 14-year-old son when the family stopped along the highway. Moments later, Paul Masunda allegedly attempted to cross the road and was fatally struck by a vehicle.
After learning about the accident, Beauty reportedly rushed towards the scene carrying her one-year-old child on her back when she was struck by the SUV transporting the minister.
The couple’s 14-year-old son reportedly survived and witnessed the deaths of both parents and his younger sibling.
Family spokesperson Rabson Masunda described the emotional trauma the teenager is currently facing.
“The child is very, very devastated. I wish we can get a social worker who can go and try to speak to the child because we don’t know what he is feeling. With his age, it’s not good.”
Authorities reportedly said the matter is now under investigation by South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate, as the drivers involved are believed to be members of the South African Police Service.
During his visit to the family home in Bela-Bela, Motsoaledi acknowledged the pain being endured by the family and said the Department of Health would look into possible assistance.
“It’s a tragedy that no human being could have expected, so we also came because the family needs repatriation back to Zimbabwe.”
He added:
“It so happens coincidentally that the certification and arrangements to repatriate people are done by the Department of Health, so we are going to see what arrangements we can do for them.”
The Zimbabwean Consulate has also reportedly committed to assisting with the processing of documentation required to transport the bodies back home ahead of the funeral.
Relatives who reportedly visited the accident scene days later said debris, dried blood and baby items were still visible along the roadside.
Charles Shoperai emotionally described his late sister as “the light of the family” while expressing the pain relatives are going through.
“I am not feeling well, I am feeling bad because this is happening to my family.”
The family reportedly said their main focus at the moment is raising funds to give their loved ones a dignified burial in Zimbabwe.
