By JOHN SAKALA
The bodies for people that were involved in the bus accident in Mokopane in Limpopo Province, in South Africa will be flown to Zambia.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba has however called for the affected families to exercise patience to enable authorities’ process mandatory procedures.
He said the process of identifying the bodies and the conducting of mandatory post mortem has to be done.
“We are encouraging families who have relatives in South Africa to help identity the bodies. For those with no one in South Africa, the Bus Service will fly into a South Africa a family member to help with the identity of the bodies.
“My office is working with the South Africa Road Fund to meet some of the costs associated with the critically injured and the deceased. In the past, although accident victims who die on South Africa roads are entitled to payments of costs and some compensation, this usually never reaches the family affected,” he said.
Mr Mwamba said he wants to use the tragic case to ensure that we iron out all associated issues and that the families are given what is due to them.
He said an updated list of those feared dead will be released.
He said one person listed as deceased; Precious Moyo Shoko was discovered to well and alive.
He said it has since emerged that she dropped at Beit Bridge for personal reasons and escaped the accident when it happened later.
He also said it was discovered that another person feared dead but was not on the passenger manifest list, is being traced.
Mr Mwamba also stated that a list of those admitted to hospital, will be released separately.
He said of the nine admitted only 3 were in critical condition.
He said that he is aware that bus companies also have insurance for incidences such as this but said the most benefits from all sources should go to the affected families.
Mr Mwamba has also disclosed that the Embassy in conjunction with the Zambia Association in South Africa (ZASA) was organising a church Service to be held in Pretoria for the departed.
He encouraged those requiring further information to contact;
Mr Patricia Muyamwa, First Secretary from the Zambia High Commission in Pretoria +27732052485
And Chris from the Royal Bus service;+27836541606
