The bodies of 42 of the 45 people who were killed in a bus crash in Limpopo over the Easter weekend have been identified. Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said that the identification process was difficult because some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. The Botswana nationals were killed in the crash at the Mmamatlakala bridge, between Mokopane and Marken, when the bus they were travelling in fell off the cliff and caught fire. They were en route to the St Engenas ZCC annual Easter pilgrimage.

Ramuthuba explained that a great deal of progress has been made to expedite these processes with the SAPS' victim Identification Unit, biology section of the Forensic Science Laboratory Unit and forensic pathology services. Some bodies were burnt beyond recognition while others were trapped inside the debris. "To date, we have successfully identified 42 human remains. The team has now started the packaging the deceased's remains in accordance with the DNA results from the biology section of the Forensic Science Laboratory Unit and the process was concluded today. This step was necessary as many of the bodies were unidentifiable due to fire damage," said Ramathuba.

Earlier in the month, the families of six of the deceased came to Mokopane Hospital to collect the remains of their loved ones after they were positively identified. An eight-year-old girl became the only survivor of the crash, she was travelling with her grandmother who also perished in the accident. The girl spent a few days at the Mokopane Hospital where she received treatment for her minor injuries. She was released to her mother and Botswana official who flew with her back home.