News / National
3 SA crash victims repatriated
31 Mar 2016 at 00:09hrs | Views
Three Zimbabweans, including an eight-month-old baby who were killed in a road accident along the R101 Highway near Mokopane town in South Africa's Limpopo Province, have been repatriated for burial after the police successfully conducted DNA profiling.
The deceased are part of the 15 people including a Malawian who were killed when a Mazda Drifter they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a haulage truck on January 20.
Zimbabwe's Consul-General to South Africa, Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, last night said that DNA profiling for the other victims was still in progress.
"The DNA profiling took longer than usual because there are many limbs, which need to be profiled. We are working with authorities here to ensure that we put together the correct limbs.
"This is a very unfortunate incident and we sympathise with the victims' relatives," he said.
Mr Mukonoweshuro said so far, they had concluded tests on three bodies including that of a mother and her child and these were from Chiredzi.
He said they were grateful for the assistance they were getting from the host government in ensuring that the DNA profiling is concluded at the earliest possible time.
He said the remains of the 12 victims were being kept at Polokwane government mortuary. The consul-general added that those with relatives who die in South African road accidents should always contact the consulate or the Road Accident Fund for assistance.
It is reported that the now deceased were travelling towards Pretoria in a Mazda Drifter with 16 people on board, including the driver when they met their tragic fate, while the haulage truck was heading towards the opposite direction.
The accident occurred between Mokopane and Niaboomspriut along a road which is mostly used by those who facilitate illegal migration between the two countries.
The R101 highway has few checkpoints manned by immigration or police officers.
A total of 38 Zimbabweans have died in road carnages in Limpopo Province in the last 12 months.
The deceased are part of the 15 people including a Malawian who were killed when a Mazda Drifter they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a haulage truck on January 20.
Zimbabwe's Consul-General to South Africa, Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, last night said that DNA profiling for the other victims was still in progress.
"The DNA profiling took longer than usual because there are many limbs, which need to be profiled. We are working with authorities here to ensure that we put together the correct limbs.
"This is a very unfortunate incident and we sympathise with the victims' relatives," he said.
Mr Mukonoweshuro said so far, they had concluded tests on three bodies including that of a mother and her child and these were from Chiredzi.
He said they were grateful for the assistance they were getting from the host government in ensuring that the DNA profiling is concluded at the earliest possible time.
He said the remains of the 12 victims were being kept at Polokwane government mortuary. The consul-general added that those with relatives who die in South African road accidents should always contact the consulate or the Road Accident Fund for assistance.
It is reported that the now deceased were travelling towards Pretoria in a Mazda Drifter with 16 people on board, including the driver when they met their tragic fate, while the haulage truck was heading towards the opposite direction.
The accident occurred between Mokopane and Niaboomspriut along a road which is mostly used by those who facilitate illegal migration between the two countries.
The R101 highway has few checkpoints manned by immigration or police officers.
A total of 38 Zimbabweans have died in road carnages in Limpopo Province in the last 12 months.
Source - the herald
