Bus hero: Trauma setting in

2003-05-04 17:31

Matefu Mokoena

Bethlehem - The hero of the Workers' Day bus disaster in Bethlehem in the Free State who plucked eight of the 10 survivors out of the dam is to undergo psychological counselling.

Len Slabbert, who played a crucial role on Thursday morning when he took his boat to rescue survivors of the accident, said he was suffering from fits of depression and was feeling traumatised.

As he lives right next to Saulspoort dam, where an estimated 63 Cosatu members drowned on their way to a Workers' Day rally in QwaQwa, he was the first port of call at the time of need.

"Since Friday morning memories of people stuck on top of the bus and the dead bodies are starting to sink in my mind. I am getting emotional from time to time and also feel stressed.

"The accident has even affected my daughter as she does not want to sleep at night. I have therefore decided to request counselling for my family and me.

"It was more traumatising later in the day on Thursday when I saw piles of dead bodies which were recovered from the dam," said Slabbert.

On Friday morning he was showered with praise by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana for rescuing the survivors.

"He helped without thinking. These are the people the country must recognise," he said. The minister said Slabbert was the one person he wanted to thank on behalf of the whole of South Africa's working population.

Relating the ordeal, Slabbert, who works at Dihlabeng municipality's sewage systems, said at first he did not believe the two men who came for help, because he had never seen buses in the vicinity of the dam.

However, he gave them the benefit of the doubt and ran down to the dam as fast as he could.

Slabbert said he could not see the bus but only a dark blur and few people in the water.

He then ran back to his house to fetch the boat and launched it into the dam to rescue the survivors.

Slabbert has served nine years as a skipper for the National Sea Rescue Institute.

"I feel sad for the people of Kimberley. This tragedy has left a huge gap in the community," he said.

- City Press