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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The identification process of nine Zimbabweans who died in an accident last Thursday is expected to take time as most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition and would need to undergo DNA tests, South African police have said. The nine died when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in rammed into a stationary Zambian haulage truck near Naboomspruit along the N1 Highway in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Limpopo police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto, said the identification process was ongoing at Naboomspruit government mortuary.

“The identification process is underway. DNA tests are also being done to confirm the identity because some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” she said.

Col Otto said the other victim was still hospitalised and in a stable condition at Naboomspruit Hospital.

The DNA profiling is expected to take more than 14 days.

She said they were working with the Zimbabwean Consulate staff in the identification process.

Col Otto said the truck driver and his passenger were not injured adding that the driver will appear at Naboomspruit Magistrate Court charged with culpable homicide today.

The accident comes shortly after seven other Zimbabweans were killed when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in collided with a haulage truck two kilometres from Beitbridge Border Post along the N1 Highway.

The N1 Highway is one of the busiest roads in South Africa as it links that country to the rest of Africa and it is a route that handles a lot of cargo movement.

The road has also become a death trap for Zimbabweans and citizens of countries north of the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers.