Willem van der Merwe was ferrying learners to a sporting event in Graaff-Reinent on Saturday morning when the bus collided head on with an overtaking mini bus taxi.(SABC)
The Cradock Primary School principal who was driving the ill-fated school bus that collied with a minibus taxi last weekend, will be buried at Cradock in the Eastern Cape today. Willem van der Merwe was ferrying learners to a sporting event in Graaff-Reinent on Saturday morning when the bus collided head on with an overtaking mini bus taxi on the R61.The father of seven also died at the scene.
A 10 year-old learner also died in the accident. The accident claimed 17 lives.
It’s alleged that the driver of the minibus taxi, Mthobeli Mambayi overtook a vehicle on the blind rise, resulting in the horror accident.
Roads and transport MEC, Thandiswa Marawu says the Road Accident Fund will ensure that all th deceased receive a dignified funeral. Marawu says she will also call upon the departments of human settlements and social development to assist families that have lost bread winners.
The deceased are expected to be buried over the next two weekends while the identification of the bodies continues at Graaff-Reinet police mortuary. The school remains closed while three teachers are still recuperating in hospital.
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Article source: http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/eb0d04004c1d494a9b21ffa583a5af00/Bus-accident-principal-to-be-buried-today-20122607Bus-accident-principal-to-be-buried-today-20122607