Divers 'groping' for bus bodies

2003-04-02 10:23

Bethlehem - Divers resumed their search of the Saulspoort Dam outside Bethlehem in misty and cold conditions early on Friday morning for more bodies from the Workers' Day bus disaster.

A diver said visibility in the dam was zero, and they had to work in total darkness on the dam floor at a depth of between 6m and 8m.

Forensic investigators from Pretoria were expected to arrive at the dam on Friday, said police.

Emergency services control officer Theuns Kruger confirmed 51 bodies had been recovered when rescuers called off the search late on Thursday because of failing light.

Most of the bodies were retrieved from the bus after it had been pulled from the water on Thursday.

The bus plunged into the dam after the driver reportedly got lost and ended up on a gravel road leading to the dam.

The number of people on the bus, which was on its way from Kimberley to a Workers' Day rally in QwaQwa, has not yet been confirmed. It is believed there were between 65 and 90 passengers, all members of the Congress of SA Trade Unions.

Trailer with bodies overturns

Only 10 passengers survived. They have returned to Kimberley.

Acting transport minister Membathisi Mdladlana was to lay a wreath at the dam at 10:00 on Friday.

The premiers of the Free State and Northern Cape, Winkie Direko and Manne Dipico, will also meet the next-of-kin of the victims on Friday.

Police said a trailer of one of the vehicles transporting the bodies back to Bloemfontein on Thursday overturned and some of the bodies ended up on the road.

No one in the vehicle was injured.

- SAPA