Keimoes mourns nine crash victims

The small town of Keimoes in the Northern Cape province continues to mourn the nine victims of the tragic bus accident at Vanrhyns Pass.

The construction workers had spent the weekend with their families and were on their way to Ceres on Monday, where they worked at the Scatec solar energy farm.

Apparently, the bus's tire burst and it went off the road before rolling down the slope and landing at the foot of the mountain.

The accident occurred around 5pm between Vanrhynsdorp and Calvinia. Ten people, including the bus driver, died and 29 were injured.

One of the deceased is 28-year-old Sebastiaan Nimeerhoudt, who had worked for Scatec for more than a year.

His distraught sister Desmone Nimeerhoudt says: “My brother worked for the same company in Kenhardt and this year he started working in Ceres.

“He came back over the weekend, actually everyone came back.

“Sebastiaan always enjoyed coming home because he was away on business and appreciated spending time with us.”

She heard the dreaded news from Sebastiaan's colleagues.

She adds: “A guy from his workplace told us that my brother was one of those who didn’t make it.

“We haven't been to the hospital to collect his body yet because no one has come to us. We've only spoken to the mayor. We want to know what happened.”

“People are devastated. None of us expected something like this to happen. It's tragic for all of us.”

Kai!Garib Mayor Marshall Matthys says they are offering support to anyone affected.

Matthys says: “Most of those who died are from Keimoes and one is from Upington. On Sunday we will hold a large memorial service, which our MEC for Social Development will attend.”

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the driver’s death.

Swartbooi reports: “The driver of the vehicle that went off the road in Vanrhyns Pass on Monday 2 September is among the ten victims who were sadly pronounced dead.

“The investigation into the circumstances of this incident is now part of an investigation by integrated specialists to confirm the cause of the crash.”

Collen Msibi, spokesman for the national transport department, conveyed his condolences to the grieving families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Msibi says: “The RTMC will investigate the cause of the accident in cooperation with local traffic authorities.”

Anyone with further information about the accident is asked to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.