Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya in Makhado, South Africa
THE Government has said it will foot the costs of repatriating Zimbabweans who died in last Sunday’s bus accident outside Makhado in Limpopo Province, South Africa as well as paying medical bills for those that were injured.
The development comes in the wake of South African authorities having completed post-mortems on the 43 people who perished in the accident among them Zimbabweans and Malawians.
Communications Director in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Gabriel Masvora confirmed the Government assistance in a statement adding that accommodation and food will be provided for discharged patients and bereaved families both in South Africa and in Beitbridge.
“The Government will provide repatriation costs for deceased Zimbabweans and medical bill coverage for the injured while bereavement and psychosocial support will be provided by clinical psychologists and social workers.
“Accommodation and food for discharged patients and bereaved families both in South Africa and at Beitbridge, will also be provided while the discharged patients will be given overnight accommodation while they arrange transport to go to their homes,” he said.
The tragic crash, which occurred along the N1 highway, involved a bus travelling from Port Elizabeth to Harare carrying 83 passengers.
As of yesterday, officials from the Zimbabwean and Malawian embassies, working closely with South African authorities, were finalising logistics for the mass physical identification of the bodies scheduled to begin tomorrow at Siloam Hospital.
The post-mortems were conducted at Tshilidzini Hospital.
A senior official at the Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg, Mr Chengetai Murahwa, said the identification exercise is being carried out in three stages — photography, physical identification and fingerprint verification — while DNA testing is being used to confirm the identities of seven minors.
“We have identified 33 Zimbabweans among the deceased, including 16 women, 12 men and five minors. We have been able to make the identifications with the help of relatives and we are now set for a mass physical viewing on Monday (tomorrow),” said Mr Murahwa.
He said after completing all three stages, they will begin processing repatriation documents.
Mr Murahwa said a total of 40 passengers were injured in the accident, with 11 self-discharged, eight discharged and 21 still hospitalised — including 13 Zimbabweans.
He said the Government of Zimbabwe is footing the medical bills, general upkeep of next of kin and repatriation costs.
“We have also advised relatives on the necessary documentation and supporting materials required for the repatriation process,” said Mr Murahwa.
Mr Murahwa added that 14 Zimbabweans remained hospitalised in various facilities across Limpopo Province, while well-wishers had donated food hampers to those receiving treatment at Elim Hospital.
The Government has established two 24-hour command centres in Makhado and Beitbridge to coordinate the logistics and also engaged Doves Funeral Services for the repatriation of the bodies for burial in Zimbabwe.
Malawi High Commission’s First Secretary Ms Justina Botomani said they had identified eight of their nationals among the deceased, which include six men, one woman and one minor.
“With the support from our host and other stakeholders and relatives, we have identified eight of our nationals among the deceased. So far, we have organised transport for the eight others who have been discharged from various hospitals,” she said.
“At the moment, we have a total of seven people who have been hospitalised and we await the commencement of the physical identification process which will be from Monday (tomorrow).”
Ms Botomani said the Malawi High Commission also issued travel documents to their nationals who lost the documents during this tragic accident.
“In addition, we have given them some money for their upkeep on the journey to Malawi,” she said.
DNC coaches operating supervisor, Mr Oliver Govha, said they are offering complementary support to the Government and compassionate support to the bereaved.
He said the company will also be visiting all the grieving families’ pre and post burial to render any necessary support.
