Police are to probe the cause of Thursday morning’s horrific bus crash near Bethlehem, eastern Free State, for the victims of which sympathy and financial assistance has poured in.
”We are investigating a charge of culpable homicide; and the investigation will thoroughly check the condition of the bus,” Free State police spokesperson Superintendent Sam Sesing said on Friday.
At least 63 people died when their bus plunged into the Saulspoort dam outside Bethlehem while en route from Kimberley to a Workers’ Day rally at Charles Mopeli stadium, Phuthaditjaba.
The bus driver apparently took a wrong turning, and took the bus onto a gravel road, eventually plunging it into the Saulspoort dam. The bus entered the dam at the foot of a slope normally used to launch boats.
Fifty-one bodies — of the 63 thought to be dead — were extricated from the dam on Thursday. Eight bodies were found in the dam, and the rest came out of the submerged bus.
Ten people survived.
Although it was unclear how many people were on board the bus, there is a possibility it was overloaded. The bus was certified to carry 65 seated passengers, the bus company Rainbow Transport Services said on Friday.
Police reported earlier that there were about 80 passengers.
Sesing said the search for more bodies was called off after dark on Friday, and would resume on Saturday morning. No more bodies were retrieved from the dam on Friday, Sesing said.
Messages of condolence for the families of victims continued to pour in on Friday, mainly from political parties, government officials and trade unions.
”We will leave no stone unturned in establishing the causes of this bus accident which has claimed so many innocent lives,” Acting Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said in a statement.
Radebe was abroad on official business, and Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, who visited the scene of the accident on Friday, took over the reins in his absence.
Mdladlana said: ”If I was minister of transport, I would probably have dealt with reckless drivers in the same manner in which I am dealing with employers who contravene the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.”
Mdladlana said he thanked God he was only acting transport minister.
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union, the Azanian People’s Organisation, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and the Socialist Party of Azania sent messages of condolences to the bereaved families.
ANCYL spokesperson Khulekani Ntshangase said while the ANCYL did not want to blame anybody for the loss of ”our comrades at this stage,” it believed that government should thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident.
”As the ANCYL, we will participate in all memorial and funeral services to be organised throughout the country.
”Furthermore, during our national executive committee meeting to be held between Friday and Sunday, we will dedicate a special moment to remind ourselves of the commitment displayed by our late comrades in the struggle for social and economic transformation,” Ntshangase said.
Financial assistance for the families of those who died was had reached more than R300 000 on Friday night. The money would be used to cover the families’ immediate expenses.
Lesaka Holdings, a financial services company led by former Cosatu general secretary Jay Naidoo, promised R3 500 to each family. Peoples Bank has pledged R100 000, the Road Accident Fund R100 000, the National Union of Mineworkers R50 000 and Bethlehem city council R50 000.
A Workers’ Day Relief Fund account was opened by People’s Bank on Thursday. Donations can be made to the Workers’ Day Relief Fund, account number 294-700-0013 at Peoples Bank.
Madisha said at a press conference in Johannesburg: ”We wish to thank those who have already contributed.
”We also thank the SA Profession of Funeral Operators for their generous offer to help with funeral arrangements.”
Madisha said his trade union federation was writing to all its member unions as well as alliance partners to contribute to the fund. ‒ Sapa