A bus crash in South Africa has killed 45 people.

The bus had a total of 46 people on board, including the driver. Only one child, an eight-year-old, survived the accident and is being treated in hospital.

In a statement, the transport ministry said the driver lost control, and the bus fell onto a rocky surface, some 50m under a bridge and caught fire, near Mamatlakala in the northeast province of Limpopo.

The passenger bus was transporting people from Botswana, who were reportedly travelling to Moria in Limpopo for an Easter weekend church service.

Rescue operations continued until the late hours of Thursday evening. Some bodies were burned beyond recognition and others were trapped inside the debris.

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