‘Progress’ in report on plane crash

THE mother of the qualified private pilot who died when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed in a sugar cane field near Winklespruit recently, said it remained an “extremely stressful” time for them.

Kivash Narain, 20, of Newlands West, who was working towards acquiring flying hours for his commercial licence, died alongside his friend, fellow private pilot Armand Kakudji, also 20, of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Engine failure has been blamed, but civil aviation authorities are investigating.

It is believed Narain attempted a forced landing.

But the Cessna 172 aircraft hit power cables, crashing and catching fire on impact.

According to police, the remains found at the scene would be subjected to DNA analysis to identify whose they were.

Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said the duration of the analysis would be determined by the forensic science laboratory in Pretoria. Last week Kakudji’s mother arrived in Durban from the DRC and provided DNA samples. Both families held prayers for the young men at the crash site, but at different times.

Narain’s mother Radha, a primary school teacher, said this week: “This is an extremely stressful time for the family because the results from the DNA testing have not yet been completed and there is no telling when this will be done.” However, the family’s priest, Pundit Satish Maharaj, who is also providing them with trauma counselling, said he had been liaising with officials in Pretoria and that progress had been made in concluding the report.

“Kivash’s funeral will be held accordingly,” he said.

Kakudji’s family declined to comment.