Mass memorials for crash victims
The families of the ten people who died in a collision near Okahandja are holding memorial services to help them come to terms with their loss.
A number of memorials will be held by relatives of the ten people who died in a head-on collision less than two weeks ago.
Their burials have been postponed because the lengthy process of DNA testing required to identify the bodies.
“The funeral arrangements of the victims can only be made after the finalisation of the DNA forensic analysis, which may take two to three months to complete,” Axaro Werner Thaniseb, who lost four relatives in the accident, said in a press statement yesterday.
Thaniseb, the appointed family media liaison for the families of those who died in the GWM vehicle that night, explained that instead the families have arranged prayer sessions which will be held at several locales over the next week.
These include a roadside memorial service on Thursday that will take place at the site of the accident. Thaniseb confirmed that four of the five people travelling in the GWM that night had died and were relatives.
The 20-year-old son of Magreth Doeses, one of the victims of the crash, was the sole survivor of the collision.
The other passengers of the GWM, who did not survive, included Goeieman, Silvanus Toa-ini Manga and Seth Manga.
Seth Manga and his family were returning from Windhoek to Omaruru and Uis after attending his daughter's wedding that weekend.
In the Volkswagen Golf six people died, including two children aged seven and 11.
Authorities at Okahandja yesterday corrected previous reports that a baby had died in the crash.
Thaniseb yesterday said that the police had not yet confirmed the cause of the crash.
He said his family had met the other family last week when they went to the forensic laboratory to provide samples for DNA testing.
He said on his side of the family everyone was “trying to get through it” despite the unexpected long delays caused by the DNA testing.
He told Namibian Sun that the prayer sessions were intended to help bring the families together in a time of grief.
“The prayer services are being held to pay tribute to those who have left us and to bring people together to help support each other and be there for one another, to help carry the load. It can help to make things easier.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
Their burials have been postponed because the lengthy process of DNA testing required to identify the bodies.
“The funeral arrangements of the victims can only be made after the finalisation of the DNA forensic analysis, which may take two to three months to complete,” Axaro Werner Thaniseb, who lost four relatives in the accident, said in a press statement yesterday.
Thaniseb, the appointed family media liaison for the families of those who died in the GWM vehicle that night, explained that instead the families have arranged prayer sessions which will be held at several locales over the next week.
These include a roadside memorial service on Thursday that will take place at the site of the accident. Thaniseb confirmed that four of the five people travelling in the GWM that night had died and were relatives.
The 20-year-old son of Magreth Doeses, one of the victims of the crash, was the sole survivor of the collision.
The other passengers of the GWM, who did not survive, included Goeieman, Silvanus Toa-ini Manga and Seth Manga.
Seth Manga and his family were returning from Windhoek to Omaruru and Uis after attending his daughter's wedding that weekend.
In the Volkswagen Golf six people died, including two children aged seven and 11.
Authorities at Okahandja yesterday corrected previous reports that a baby had died in the crash.
Thaniseb yesterday said that the police had not yet confirmed the cause of the crash.
He said his family had met the other family last week when they went to the forensic laboratory to provide samples for DNA testing.
He said on his side of the family everyone was “trying to get through it” despite the unexpected long delays caused by the DNA testing.
He told Namibian Sun that the prayer sessions were intended to help bring the families together in a time of grief.
“The prayer services are being held to pay tribute to those who have left us and to bring people together to help support each other and be there for one another, to help carry the load. It can help to make things easier.”
JANA-MARI SMITH
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article