Repatriation arrangements are underway in the Free State for the 11 people who died in a bus crash on the N1 between Trompsburg and Edenburg.
The bus overturned last Thursday while travelling from Cape Town to Zimbabwe, resulting in 11 fatalities and leaving several others injured.
Zimbabwe’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, Eria Phiri, is expected to assist families with the formal identification of the deceased at the Free State government mortuary in Bloemfontein.
Phiri will be accompanied by Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae and Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi during the identification and formal handover process.
Free State Department of Health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said autopsies on the deceased had been completed and the identification process resumed on Thursday.
The delegation will meet with the victims’ next of kin to assist with the identification process.
Mvambi said the repatriation of the bodies would begin once the necessary permits had been issued and the formal handovers completed.
“After permits and formal handovers, dignified repatriation will proceed,” he said.
Meanwhile, 10 patients injured in the crash remain under medical care at Universitas and Pelonomi hospitals in Bloemfontein.
Authorities are continuing to provide support to the affected families as arrangements are made to return the deceased to Zimbabwe.