Cosatu starts bus-crash fund

2003-05-02 11:44

Thabang Mokopanele

Johannesburg - The Congress of South African Trade Unions said on Friday it was devastated by the bus accident near Bethlehem in the Free State in which more than 60 workers lost their lives.

Most of those who died were members of the South African Municipal Workers' Union, a Cosatu affiliate.

Ten survivors, some of whom had managed to crawl on to the roof of the bus as it lay submerged in Saulspoort Dam, were taken to hospital.

The bus was transporting members of the country's largest trade union movement from Northern Cape to attend a Workers Day rally in QwaQwa, near Bethlehem.

Cosatu said: "We are collaborating with the People's Bank to set up a fund to help the bereaved families. The bank has donated R50 000 rand to start the fund. Further details of the fund will be sent out as soon as possible."

Cosatu said it would co-operate fully with authorities to find the cause of the accident and steps that could be taken to prevent any such tragedies in future.

- I-Net Bridge (Business)