Free graves for three victims of deadly bus crash

The families of three of the victims who died in the Khorixas District Hospital patient bus crash will not have to pay for graves.

Khorixas town council chief executive officer Andreas //Howoseb told Namibian Sun on Monday that the council will provide the graves free of charge to support the bereaved families of three of the victims who died in the accident.

“This is to support the bereaved families in this traumatic time,” //Howoseb said.

The three victims were among 11 people killed in a fatal crash involving a truck and a hospital patient bus on 1 May, about 30 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo.

The donated graves are for hospital patient bus driver Metusalem Kamendu (54) and brothers Geraldo Haraeb (13) and Elsario Nanuseb (11), who will be buried in the same grave, //Howoseb said.

Of the eleven victims, Victoria Kaunotje (45) and her two children, Teyana Zaongara (13) and Mervin Zaongara (17), were buried at Kamanjab last Saturday.

Enrolled nurse Martha Hangolonde (28) was buried in Windhoek on Friday.

Ritha Jod (18) will be buried at Fransfontein this weekend. Other victims were registered nurse Rebekka Kasheeta (32), Lazarus Hamutenya (9) and Nicoline Eises (34).

Deputy health and social services minister Suzan Ndjaleka said during a mass memorial held last week that the ministry would assist affected families with counselling and ensure their loved ones receive dignified funerals.

Kunene governor Vipuakuje Muharukua also donated food items to affected families a fortnight ago.