TEN people have died and 30 others sustained serious injuries during a bus accident in Polokwane.

The accident happened at about 3am yesterday when the driver of the bus transporting Zimbabwean nationals lost control and veered off the road.

Police said the bus was transporting passengers from Zimbabwe to Johannesburg.

Speaking from a hospital bed, Mishack Makojo, 39, said the bus was ferrying people from different parts of Harare.

He said most of the passengers had legal passports and businesses in South Africa.

Makojo said he ran a freight business in Johannesburg and was scheduled to buy goods for his second business in Harare.

He said the driver had taken over from another driver at Beitbridge in Musina.

Makojo said the bus nearly fell into a bridge just after leaving Makhado on the way to Polokwane because the driver was fatigued.

Another survivor, Ishmael Musvungwa, 33, said the driver had a sip of water and poured some on his face to freshen up.

But a few minutes later he dozed behind the wheel.

"A few minutes later it was blood inside and outside the bus with bodies of people scattered at the side of the road," Musvungwa said.

Police spokesman in Polokwane, Mohlaka Mashiane, said the driver was allegedly sleeping when he lost control of the bus .

Mashiane said those who sustained serious injuries were rushed to Mankweng Hospital, Polokwane Provincial Hospital and Seshego Hospital.

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.

Meanwhile, the six bodies of Zimbabwean nationals which have been lying for more than a month at the Makhado government mortuary were finally identified.

The Zimbabweans were killed in another accident involving two sedans six weeks ago.

They were identified by relatives and friends.