Culpable homicide probe after Rovos derailment

Police are investigating potential culpable homicide following the Rovos Rail train derailment that claimed two lives last weekend.

This was confirmed yesterday by the Namibian Police regional commander in the ||Kharas region, Commissioner Marius Katamila.

A Rovos Rail driver and a TransNamib driver died at the scene after two locomotives and two utility coaches of the luxury rail operator left the track in an accident at Naute on Sunday, 1 March, approximately 285 km from Ariamsvlei near the South African border.

Namibian Richard Wimmerth (49) and South African Hendrik du Plessis (55) died at the scene.

"We have launched an investigation in close collaboration with TransNamib, and it is premature to talk about its details at this stage," Katamila said.

On Monday, TransNamib officials visited the accident scene and 17 undamaged coaches were removed to Keetmanshoop. According to sources, a crane will be deployed and it is estimated that it could take up to two weeks to remove the remaining two coaches and two locomotives.

Propable cause

Rovos Rail, a privately owned luxury rail operator, released a statement on the day of the tragedy attributing the accident to a washaway of the last span of a bridge.

The train was on its 3 400-kilometre, 11-day Namibian safari from Walvis Bay to Pretoria, carrying up to 72 passengers in 36 suites.

Desmond Van Jaarsveld, the CEO of TransNamib, said that an investigation involving the internal team of TransNamib and experts from the directorate of aircraft accident and incident investigations within the works and transport ministry is ongoing. “Once finalised, key stakeholders will be informed, and appropriate measures will be implemented to prevent any recurrence,” he said.

Public allegations

Questions on the probable cause of the tragedy and allegations of negligence on the side of TransNamib surfaced on social media after the accident.

“No need for investigation. It is clear that the train is still using old railway lines and crossing old, old bridges that are no longer getting maintenance at all, so no need for investigation. I'm sure that bridge had some cracks, and locomotives are heavy duty,” Elvis Molehe from Mafikeng noted in a comment made on an accident update on the Aitsa Facebook page.

“Why was the track not regularly inspected? After heavy rain, is it a must?” asked Rian Röscher.

These allegations were shared with TransNamib spokesperson Alina Garises, who acknowledged receipt and promised to respond by Friday.

In April 2025, a Rovos Rail luxury train derailed in Zimbabwe after colliding with a freight locomotive near Gwanda on the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Railway line while en route to Victoria Falls. No passengers were seriously injured, while several crew members sustained injuries and were treated in hospitals in Gwanda and Bulawayo.