Mass burial for Verena school kids

2 pupils to be buried in Limpopo, KZN

A mass funeral will be held in Mpumalanga for 17 of the 19 people who died after burning inside a taxi after a crash on the R25 on April 21.

Of the 20 people who died at the scene – between Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng and Verena in Mpumalanga – only the driver of the taxi Amos Mnguni was identified. He was buried at the weekend.

At least four of the pupils were from Mahlenga Secondary School, while the other 14 and a general worker were from Refano Primary, both in Bronkhorstspruit.

The 19 were burnt beyond recognition following the crash and forensic DNA tests had to be conducted to identify them.

“The funeral service for the victims of the Verena crash will be on Saturday. This is after forensic experts finalised the process of identification on Monday,” the funeral planning committee said late yesterday.

The committee led by Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison Pat Ngomane and Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi said it consulted families about the burial date.

“Sixteen learners and the general assistant will be buried in Wolvenkop in Verena on Saturday, while two [other] learners will be buried on Sunday in Nongoma in KZN and Limpopo, respectively.”

Meanwhile, a schools memorial service will be held today in Sokhulumi village, the location of the two schools involved.