PICTURE: GALLO IMAGES/(Rob Brown)
A South African bus driver has gone viral after sharing an eerie story about transporting repatriated Malawian migrants, leaving social media users divided over his claims.
In a video narrated in IsiZulu, the driver recounted what he described as unusual experiences while driving buses carrying migrants from South Africa back to Malawi.
Also see: Hundreds of migrants camp outside Home Affairs centres
Driver shares unusual observations
According to the driver, he noticed something he found difficult to explain during several trips to the border.
He claimed that buses would leave South Africa full of passengers, but after crossing the border, some of those passengers would seemingly “disappear” before the journey ended.
The driver also said he found it strange that the passengers rarely left the bus during scheduled stops at petrol stations. Instead, they would remain seated quietly until they reached their final destination.
Questions about the mysterious claims
In the viral video, the driver said his curiosity eventually led him to ask one of the passengers why some people appeared to disappear or die as the bus got closer to its destination.
According to the driver, the passenger replied that some of the people who had been living in South Africa had actually died in their home countries.
The driver said he struggled to believe the explanation and decided to ask five other passengers the same question. He claimed that each of them gave him a similar response.
Interesting news coming from the Drivers that are transporting Malawians from South Africa 🇿🇦
Apparently these people don’t reach their homes because they’re no longer alive .😳😳 pic.twitter.com/yoczVsc8ff
— knick (@Knick_RSA) July 8, 2026
Social media reacts
The video has sparked widespread discussion online, with many users sharing different interpretations of the driver’s account.
Some viewers described the story as unsettling and said it reflected beliefs held in some African communities about death and the spiritual connection between people and their ancestral homes.
Others questioned the claims, arguing that there is no evidence to support the suggestion that passengers literally disappeared or that the events occurred as described. Many urged viewers to treat the story as a personal account rather than a verified fact.
Also see: ‘Today is not about migrants’: Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma calls for calm during March and March action
The story I have heard from Malawians especially coming from the region close to the border with Mozambique they are very strange. Even if I share them here I will sound crazy.
— ajustcause (@TheJustCaused) July 8, 2026
We used to hear many stories like this in the 90s when Zimbabweans would move around our villages in Limpopo selling second hand clothes. It was believed witches sent them to slave in SA and send money home.
Our families that used to accommodate them overnight stopped doing so.— StarLedi (@LadyMpopi) July 8, 2026
lol come on guys 😭😂😂 why would they come to SA and work day and night if they are dead
— The Tsonga Scouser ✌🏽🇿🇦✌🏽 (@MphozaIce) July 8, 2026
A story that continues to trend
Although the driver’s claims remain unverified, the video has captured the attention of thousands of social media users and continues to generate debate.
The story has also highlighted how personal experiences and cultural beliefs can quickly become the subject of widespread online conversations, with viewers offering both sceptical and spiritual interpretations of what the driver said he witnessed.
Also see: Ronald Lamola calls for dignified, lawful treatment of migrants
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