Lerato Mbhiza
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday visited the families of party members from Limpopo who died in a bus crash on Saturday, the ANC said in a statement on Monday.
The bus, carrying ANC members from the Molemole sub-region, was traveling to the party’s 112th anniversary celebration at Mbombela stadium in Mpumalanga on Saturday and was involved in an accident on the R71 at the Makgoebaskloof outside Tzaneen.
Ramaphosa had a briefing session with the ANC Provincial Leadership, led by Chupu Mathabatha, and hospital management at Mankweng Hospital in the Polokwane Sub-region, Limpopo, before he also visited injured people.
Preliminary reports from the provincial Department of Transport and Community indicate that three buses followed each other when the third bus hit the second one from behind and overturned into a gorge.
Five people were confirmed dead, while several others sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention at various hospitals in the province.
Ramaphosa is also expected to visit the injured survivors at various hospitals.
In a statement released on Monday evening, ANC provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe extended the party’s condolences to the families of the deceased.
“The party has directed the provincial government to offer comprehensive support to the accident victims and calls upon South African law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The ANC visited the injured in the hospital on Sunday and noted their commendable progress towards recovery.
“Additionally, and in response to this tragedy, the ANC has formed a dedicated team to collaborate with the affected families and relevant stakeholders in planning for the memorial and funeral services,” said Madadzhe.
The ANC Limpopo Provincial Chairperson, Stanley Mathabatha, has also sent deep condolences to the families affected by a fatal bus crash that claimed the lives of five ANC supporters on their way to the January 8th celebrations at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
The accident occurred on the R71 at Magoebaskloof, outside Tzaneen, when their bus collided with another and rolled down a gorge.
“It’s very tragic and very devastating when the ANC was supposed to be celebrating its birthday. Now, we are on the other side of the celebration. We are mourning the deaths of our comrades. Five comrades died in this accident.
“And it’s a very, very, very sad day for the African National Congress; not only in this province but throughout the country because the whole country is gathering in Mpumalanga today, where all of us were when we heard this sad news,” said Mathabatha.
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