The lifeless body of the girl, aged about seven, was found by officials in the Cradock Primary School bus. However, teachers at the school were adamant she was not one of their pupils.
It emerged the young girl was a passenger on the minibus and that she must have been flung into the school bus when the two vehicles collided.
Department of Transport external communications director Hilgard Matthews appealed to parents missing their loved ones to contact Cradock police.
According to eye witnesses, the Mtwana Tours minibus, on its way from Cape Town to Mthatha, had overtaken another vehicle on a rise and smashed into the oncoming 60-seater school bus.
At least 17 people were killed in the accident.
According to Mtwana Tours owner TP Mtwana, the driver had only just taken over from his co-driver when the accident occurred.
Mtwana said the deceased man, who cannot be named, had been driving for only about an hour after taking over from his co-driver when he smashed into the school bus.
He said the co-driver was in a critical condition in hospital .
“On behalf of Mtwana Tours, I would like to apologise to the grieving families. My condolences go out to them. We strongly condemn irresponsible driving.”
Cradock Primary School deputy principal Alfie Blume is recovering at Greenacres Hospital. Teacher Jacques de Meillon, who sustained a spinal fracture, will undergo surgery in Bloemfontein today .
His wife, Ursula, said he was stable.
Principal Wimpie van der Merwe and 10-year-old pupil Stephanus Cornelius Ferreira died on the scene.
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Article source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2012/07/24/riddle-of-crash-victim