adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH African police have identified the seven people who were killed when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in collided with a haulage truck about two kilometres from Beitbridge Border Post along the N1 highway last week. The two vehicles collided at around 5am near the weighbridge when the driver of the border post bound haulage truck made a right turn in front of the speeding kombi which was travelling towards Musina with 15 passengers on Wednesday last week.
Seven people died instantly and nine others were seriously injured as a result of the collision.
Limpopo Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said: “Among the dead were six women and one man.”
“The victims are; Alice Chipato, 26, Mavis Chipato, 59, Yvonne Rufaro Mhlanga, 29, Faith Nyabutsi, 32, Nyaradzai Dzvuke, 37, Nomathemba Mpofu, 38 and Batsirai Pasipanodya, 32 (male).”
She said all the 15 passengers in the kombi were Zimbabweans.
Col Otto said eight of the injured were still admitted to Musina Government Hospital while one who was critically injured was transferred to Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
She said relatives had started collecting the bodies for burial.
Col Otto urged motorists to abide by road traffic regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of life.
Zimbabwe’s Consul General to South Africa Batiraishe Henry Mukonoweshuro said in a statement yesterday: “We wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
“We also wish to express our hope that the nine who are hospitalised will have a quick recovery. It’s our hope that these tragic events don’t happen again.”
Mukonoweshuro also commended the various government departments in South Africa and Zimbabwe who facilitated in the identification and repatriation of the bodies for burial.
“Our gratitude also goes to the Road Accident Fund here affiliated to the Ministry of Transport who were quick to assist in the repatriation of the bodies and are also assisting those admitted to hospital,” he said.
Mukonoweshuro said identification of the bodies was easy because all the victims were documented.
The N1 highway is one of the busiest roads in South Africa as it links the country to the rest of Africa and it is the route, which handles huge volumes of commercial cargo.
The road has also become a death trap for Zimbabweans and citizens of countries north of the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers.
Online Reporter