North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono has welcomed assurance by the Road Accident Fund (RAF) that it would assist families of the horrendous Zeerust crash with costs towards burial for the victims.
Fourteen people, 9 of whom were educators from various schools around Mahikeng died after being involved in collision that involved a taxi and a bakkie occurred on the N4 Bakwena Highway outside Zeerust last Friday morning.
The head on collision suspected to have been caused by speeding occurred just before 7:00am, at Abjatterskop about 4 kilometers outside Zeerust towards Groot Marico.
Nine of the passengers who burnt to death at the horrific scene of the accident were in the Toyota Quantum bakkie which was driving from Zeerust towards Groot Marico. The deceased are said to be educators who were from Mahikeng on their way to a National Professional Teachers Organisation South Africa (NAPTOSA) workshop in Rustenburg.
Five people who were in the Toyota bakkie that was reportedly from Rustenburg towards Zeerust also died at the scene of the accident. The driver of the minibus and two female passengers were rushed to Zeerust Provincial Hospital with critical injuries.
Police are investigating cases of culpable homicide, reckless and or negligent driving. DNA tests to identify the remains of the victims who burnt beyond recognition are expected to be finalised sometime this week.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0420
Fax: 018 381 0328
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: Lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
