This comes after more than 100 people were seriously injured when a truck driver did not stop at a level crossing causing the Shosholoza Meyl train to derail near Kroonstad on Thursday morning.

FEDUSA’s General Secretary, Dennis George, said they would like to send their condolences to the families.

“The negligent and irresponsible driver of the truck, that tried to force its way before the train, should be charged for murder instead of culpable homicide. The driver has caused a lot of pain and harm to many people, therefore Fedusa believes the justice system should take its course in the full way,” says George.

Free State Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, says the recent update by the Head of Free State EMS and Forensic Pathology Services has determined that there have been 19 fatalities thus far.

 The total number of bodies is 19, with details as follows:

• 8 adult males

• 5 adult females

• 4 children females

• 2 undetermined

These details have been verified by Dr Pule, who is the Head of the Free State Health Forensic Pathology in Kroonstad. The joint multidisciplinary teams of National, Provincial and Police Pathology Services will converge by Monday to work on a final determination of who the deceased are.

OFM News