MEC visits Wits students who survived horror crash

File picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/Independent Media

File picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/Independent Media

Published May 3, 2016

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Johannesburg – Gauteng MEC for Health, Qedani Mahlangu, on Tuesday visited four survivors of the accident that killed seven University of Witwatersrand students along the N1 highway south, near Mokopane in Limpopo, on Sunday night.

Seven students and their driver were killed in a horror crash after the minibus taxi they were travelling in hit an overturned trailer and caught alight. Six other students were injured and were hospitalised.

Four of the six surviving students were transported to the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg on Tuesday while two others were being treated in Mokopane for minor injuries, after which they will be released.

According to the university, the students were travelling back to Johannesburg from a Zion Christian Church (ZCC) pilgrimage they had attended in Moletjie, just outside Polokwane.

Mahlangu, in a statement, said she was satisfied about the condition of the four students who survived the accident, adding that she hoped that doctors would do their best.

Meanwhile, Wits University on Tuesday said its delegation remained in Mokopane where they were receiving the families of the seven deceased students, together with representatives from the provincial department of health and the police.

Wits said they had already met with the families of five of the deceased, and would meet with the remaining two families when they arrived on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“Social workers and counselling services were also made available by the province to assist the family members,” Wits said in a statement.

Wits encouraged continuous support during this difficult time.

“We encourage students and staff that may be traumatised to contact CCDU if you require any assistance. CCDU has counsellors on hand to assist anyone during this difficult period.”

African News Agency

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