The African National Congress (ANC) will take financial responsibility for the burial of the five party supporters who died in a bus crash at Magoebaskloof in Limpopo. That’s according to party President Cyril Ramaphosa, who visited the families of the deceased and those who have been hospitalised. The five perished last Saturday while travelling to the party’s 112th birthday celebrations in Mpumalanga. Eleven others have been hospitalised.
On a day-long programme to interact with party members affected by the Saturday crash, Ramaphosa started by visiting three of the patients at the Mankweng hospital. He was also taken through the hospital’s life-saving imaging machinery. He then moved to interact with the other eight patients at the Botlokwa hospital.
The ANC President then had engagements with accident survivors and the families of the five deceased at Eisleben in Botlokwa. He says they will ensure that the deceased receive a dignified send-off.
“We are deeply, deeply saddened by what has happened. We have said that will take responsibility of all the arrangements that need to be made to put them to rest and we will take over of course with your cooperation and assistance the whole process of burial.”
Ramaphosa says an investigation into the roadworthiness of the vehicles involved is being conducted.
“The buses need to be thoroughly inspected to see if they are roadworthy and should travel long distances because that is what seems to have gone wrong,”
The bereaved families are struggling to come to terms with the deaths.
“On behalf of the four families, I am so sad because my sister-in-law that I stay with also died but we have to accept the situation even though it is not easy,” says family member Mametja Rangoanasha.
Ramaphosa says his trips to Uganda on Thursday and the DRC on Saturday will coincide with both the memorial and funeral services.
Video: Ramaphosa visits families following bus tragedy in Mpumalanga:
