Willowvale – Social workers had their hands
full on Thursday morning trying to console mourners at a memorial service in
Nqabara village in Willowvale, where 35 people who died in a tragic bus
accident have been remembered, City Press reported.
Nurses, social workers and paramedics
worked hard to console bereaved families, some of whom sobbed uncontrollably,
during the memorial service which was attended by Transport Minister Dipuo
Peters, her provincial counterpart Weziwe Tikana, premier Phumulo Masualle,
Road and Public Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu, mayors, government officials and
religious leaders.
Also present was former premier and current
Bhisho Legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet.
Thousands of people from all over the
province filled the giant six-pole marquee erected on the grounds of Nduku
Junior Secondary School, in Nqabara, 25km from Willowvale.
Inside the marquee the mood was tense, with
mourners – including widows and bereaved parents – seated on the right-hand
side of the tent.
The crash took place on Saturday after the
driver lost control of the bus in which they were travelling when the brakes
failed. It veered off the road and down a hill, plunging into a river bed. The
driver died in the crash.
The memorial service was organised by the
Eastern Cape departments of transport and social development, as well as the
Mbhashe Local Municipality.
Minister Peters will deliver a message at
the memorial service on behalf of national government and the president later
on Thursday.
Meanwhile, another memorial service will be
held in Queenstown on Friday for 10 others who died on Saturday in a separate
accident between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet. The deadly crash occurred when a
minibus-taxi’s tyre burst.
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Article source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Thousands-of-mourners-attend-bus-victims-service-20150903