/ 2 January 2008

Victims of plane crash identified

The four people killed in a light aircraft crash in the Swartberg Mountains on Tuesday have been identified by relatives, Western Cape police said on Wednesday.

The plane that was en route to Pretoria from Mossel bay was piloted by 51-year-old Phillip Ginsberg from Pretoria. Also on board were Aletta Bezuidenhout (40), who was in a relationship with Ginsberg, and her two daughters, Jacqueline and Elizabeth, aged 19 and 13, from Mossel Bay, said Superintendent Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe.

Families arrived at the Oudtshoorn mortuary to identify the bodies on Wednesday afternoon. Ginsberg was identified by his two sons and the Bezuidenhouts were identified by family members.

The bodies will be sent to Pretoria and to Mossel Bay by arrangement with the families and mortuary officials.

Mangqwengqwe said an inquest docket had been opened and the Civil Aviation Authority would conduct an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

The Swartberg Pass between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert is closed until further notice, due to the plane crash. — Sapa