Families of N1 crash victims start grisly process of identifying badly burnt relatives

Some of the families whose relatives are among passengers who died when the minibus taxi they were travelling in crashed and caught fire on the N1 in Limpopo have started arriving at the Mokopane Hospital to identify their relatives.

Mokopane is a town 60km southwest of Polokwane, where majority of the bus crash victims were heading to.

Marinki Mangwale from Ga-Mashashane arrived to identify the remains of her 16-year-old son Clifford Mangwale. The teen had visited his brother in Pretoria and was returning home for the start of the school year when tragedy struck.

The accident on Tuesday claimed 17 lives, with Limpopo spokesperson for transport and community safety Mike Maringa saying some were burnt beyond recognition.

The crash happened when a Toyota SUV and a 22-seater minibus taxi collided head-on near the Mookgophong off-ramp.

“He called me on Tuesday that he is coming back. He later sent me a text message saying he was sorry for not doing his best in grade 9 though he passed and going to grade 10,” she said.

Mangwale added that when her son did not arrive, she reported the matter to local police.

“While I was still at the police station, I got a call from the police that my son could be one of the passengers burnt beyond recognition. I listened in disbelief and I couldn't hold my tears. I still feel it's just a dream.”

Samuel Makgoka from Makgofe village, outside Seshego, said he was at the facility to identify his relative Thoko Matais who is believed to have boarded the same minibus which was travelling from the Pretoria CBD.

Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba together with transport and community safety MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya will lead the team of experts as they initiate the identification processes.