Limpopo Department of Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said she is confident that the sole survivor of the deadly Limpopo bus crash will be discharged this week. The eight-year-old girl was admitted to the Mokopane Hospital on Friday after the fatal accident where the driver lost control of the bus which fell off a cliff and caught fire near Mmamatlakala, between Mokopane and Marken in Limpopo. 

SHE IS RECOVERING WELL

The bus was transporting the St. Engenas ZCC members from Molepolole, near Gaborone, to Moria to attend the Easter Pilgrimage in Podingwana. The survivor was with her grandmother when the accident took place. Ramathuba visited the girl together with Botswana's High Commissioner Dr Sanji Monageng on Saturday. "I am happy with the physical injuries and their recovery. Therefore, I am satisfied that anytime she can be discharged, but we must also be mindful of the psychological trauma she is going through because it will take a long time for her to recover from that,' the MEC Ramathuba told News24 in an interview, adding that once the medical team is ready to discharge her, she will be handed her over to the Department of Health in Botswana. 

TEMPORARY MEMORY LOSS  

Ramathuba also confirmed that the girl has suffered temporary memory loss due to the accident. "She's remembering everything that happened in Botswana but doesn't remember what happened during that accident," she was quoted by the publication. She added that the psychologist dealing with the child indicated that her memory would return in due course. 

IDENTIFICATION PROCESS  

Preparations are underway to identify and repatriate the bodies of the 45 people who perished in the crash. According to the passenger list from the owner of the bus, there were 31 women and 15 men on board. Ramathuba said the process of identifying the remains were ongoing and that they have so far received 41 body bags. "It's difficult to say the bodies have all been retrieved. We have received the body bags of the remains and we are not sure how many deceased are inside them,' she said. Ramathuba also said of the remains received, nine remains have been positively identified and that the families of six of those have already came through and were able to positively identify them. In a statement on Sunday, the Botswana police said their DNA forensic scientists have completed the collection of blood samples from relatives of victims of the crash for analysis. "The DNA sample analysis is part of a joint forensic science investigations process by Botswana Police and the South African Police Service to help identify the disaster victims. Given its complexity, the identification process is expected to take time to conclude," the police said.