Phaahla to monitor progress made to identify, repatriate Limpopo bus crash victims

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Mongezi Koko

JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Health Joe Phaahla is expected to monitor progress made by authorities in Limpopo on Tuesday in efforts to identify and repatriate victims of a bus crash.

Forty-five Botswana nationals died on Thursday when a bus they were traveling in fell into a ravine and caught fire.

ALSO READ: Limpopo bus crash: Multi-disciplinary team prioritises victim identification, repatriation of Botswana citizens

They were on their way to Moria for an Easter church service.

Thirty-four bodies have been recovered, but only nine were identifiable, with an eight-year-old child being the only person who survived the crash.

Phaahla will be joined by Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who has actively been on the ground.

At the weekend, Ramathuba held a media briefing with Botswana High Commissioner to South Africa, Dr Sanji Monageng, where she announced the establishment of a multi-disciplinary team, including the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and the Department of International Relations, to probe the tragedy.

Both Monageng and Ramathuba were unable to provide details on the names of the victims, the bus company, or the driver.

Instead, Monageng said the church that the pilgrims were going to had a list of all the names of the passengers aboard the vehicle.

Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said: "He [Phaahla] will interact with the sole survivor of the crash and also visit the scene of the incident."

Outcomes from the visit are expected to be shared with the public.