Region seeks to assist Simanya accident victims
RUNDU – The Kavango West Regional Council said it has made a decision to set up a joint council in honour of the 10 people who lost their lives in a car accident at Simanya village in the region last week.
The accident happened 18 kilometres west of Nkurenkuru when a seven-seater collided with a Nissan sedan and both cars caught fire on the Nkurenkuru-Mpungu road.
Governor of the region Sirkka Ausiku told Nampa on Monday the decision to establish a committee was made by the regional leadership on Friday.
She said this was done to assist the bereaved families in coordinating responsibilities on their behalf.
“The joint committee consists of relevant stakeholders as well as a few family members of the deceased,” she said.
Ausiku said the identities of all the victims are not yet officially confirmed, as DNA results are still awaited to help with their identification; thus, a date for a planned
mass burial has not been set. While waiting, she said the committee held a public mass prayer day on Saturday at the accident scene, which saw members of the community, the regional official leadership, church leaders and bereaved family members come together.
During that ceremony, the wreckage of the two vehicles involved in the accident was buried at the scene.
Meanwhile, Ausiku said the joint committee was also established because of individuals and business people who want to support the bereaved families.
The police crime investigations coordinator for the region, Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas said only one body that was not completely burned was identified by family members thus far, adding that they submitted samples for DNA analysis and are waiting for the results.