KOMATIPOORT- Friends and family members of the twenty-two people who were killed in an accident last month gathered at the Tonga State Mortuary recently to identify their loved ones. To date no results have been released and the families are curious to know the results.

Almindo Foraro, one of the family members who claim his foster brother is among the deceased, said they want to know the results no matter how long it will take. He said the findings will enable them to bury their loved ones in a dignified manner rather than to be buried by the government in an unknown place.

Foraro and his brother are said to be Mozambicans. This accident, which brought shock to families, happened near Komatipoort last month where a minibus-taxi hit a truck from behind and then burst into flames.

Both the truck and the minibus-taxi were heading towards the direction of the Lebombo Border Post, between Komatipoort and Mozambique. All the passengers were burnt beyond recognition during the accident.

Komatipoort Police spokesman, Constable Richard Khumalo, said the surviving driver of the truck told cops that he was turning to the Komati Mill road when the accident occurred. He said: “The deceased are beyond recognition and we are hoping that through this test we will know the deceased’s next of kin. Blood samples have been taken both from the deceased and the family members,” said Khumalo.

Police believe that the deceased are Mozambican citizens as they were about to cross the Mozambican border gate.

A charge of culpable homicide has been laid against the truck driver. Officials from the department of roads and transport send their condolences to the bereaved families.