By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The remains of 36 more people, who died in a bus crash at Mmamatlakala bridge outside Mokopane during Easter weekend in Limpopo, have been identified.
This brings to 42 the number of people who have been identified.
The crash on the R518 Mmamatlakala road in Mokopane claimed the lives of 45 Botswana citizens.
The 45 worshippers from Botswana died while on their way to St Engenas Zion Cristian Church (ZCC) for an Easter pilgrimage to Moria outside Polokwane when their bus plunged off the bridge and caught fire.
An eight-year-old girl was the only person to survive the crash.
“The multidisciplinary team which is currently responsible for coordinating the recovery and positive identification, which will result in repatriation of the remains of those who perished on the 28th of March during a bus accident at the Mamatlakala bridge, can confirm that up to so far, 42 human remains, which includes the six that were identifiable have been positively identified through the DNA processes,” the department of Health said in a statement.
“The team is currently finalising the analysis of the remaining samples.”
In a separate incident, the Limpopo department of transport has confirmed another accident involving a bus, resulting in the deaths of eight people in Limpopo on Thursday.
The accident occurred along the R555 in the Tubatse-Fetakgomo Municipality, Sekhukhune District.
According to Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Florence Radzilani, the bus allegedly attempted to overtake unsafely and collided with a truck.
“The deceased were all passengers in the truck, who were en route to work at a nearby brick manufacturing company,” stated the department.
Radzilani has conveyed messages of condolences and comfort to the families of the victims of this fatal accident. She has also made a clarion call to motorists to drive with caution and observe traffic rules at all times.