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Zimbabwe begins repatriation of 36 nationals killed in SA bus crash
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Zimbabwe's Embassy in South Africa has commenced the repatriation process of the 36 Zimbabweans who tragically lost their lives in a horrific road accident in Makhado, Limpopo Province, last week.
This follows the successful identification of all the victims' remains at the Siloam Hospital Mortuary on Monday, marking a major step toward returning the bodies to their families for burial.
According to Zimbabwe's Chargé d'Affaires to South Africa, Mr. Shepard Gwenzi, the identification exercise was completed after a painstaking process involving South African forensic experts and pathologists, who worked through the weekend to restore and preserve the badly damaged bodies.
"On 20 October, the physical identification of the deceased was successfully conducted at Siloam Hospital Mortuary, with all the bodies positively identified by next of kin," Mr. Gwenzi said. "It is expected that the bodies will be handed over to Doves Funeral Services on 21 October 2025 for embalming in preparation for repatriation to Zimbabwe for burial."
The devastating crash, which occurred along the N1 road near Makhado, claimed the lives of 30 Zimbabwean adults and six children. The bus, which was ferrying passengers to Harare and Malawi, plunged into a cliff after reportedly losing control.
In addition to the Zimbabwean victims, eight Malawian men, one woman, and one child also perished in the accident. Forty others sustained injuries, with 12 Zimbabweans and seven Malawians still hospitalised in Limpopo as of Monday.
Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba said the identification process was handled with utmost care to ensure accuracy and prevent any mix-ups. "The process was conducted in three stages — photography, physical identification, and fingerprint verification — while DNA tests were carried out for the seven children," she explained.
The repatriation of the deceased is expected to be concluded within the week, allowing bereaved families in Zimbabwe to begin the process of mourning and laying their loved ones to rest.
The Makhado crash has reignited calls for enhanced cross-border transport safety measures, as authorities from both Zimbabwe and South Africa continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly accident.
This follows the successful identification of all the victims' remains at the Siloam Hospital Mortuary on Monday, marking a major step toward returning the bodies to their families for burial.
According to Zimbabwe's Chargé d'Affaires to South Africa, Mr. Shepard Gwenzi, the identification exercise was completed after a painstaking process involving South African forensic experts and pathologists, who worked through the weekend to restore and preserve the badly damaged bodies.
"On 20 October, the physical identification of the deceased was successfully conducted at Siloam Hospital Mortuary, with all the bodies positively identified by next of kin," Mr. Gwenzi said. "It is expected that the bodies will be handed over to Doves Funeral Services on 21 October 2025 for embalming in preparation for repatriation to Zimbabwe for burial."
In addition to the Zimbabwean victims, eight Malawian men, one woman, and one child also perished in the accident. Forty others sustained injuries, with 12 Zimbabweans and seven Malawians still hospitalised in Limpopo as of Monday.
Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba said the identification process was handled with utmost care to ensure accuracy and prevent any mix-ups. "The process was conducted in three stages — photography, physical identification, and fingerprint verification — while DNA tests were carried out for the seven children," she explained.
The repatriation of the deceased is expected to be concluded within the week, allowing bereaved families in Zimbabwe to begin the process of mourning and laying their loved ones to rest.
The Makhado crash has reignited calls for enhanced cross-border transport safety measures, as authorities from both Zimbabwe and South Africa continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly accident.
Source - The Chronicle
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