Death toll in E Cape bus accident climbs to 31 as toddler succumbs to injuries
The death toll in Monday's horror bus accident in the Eastern Cape has risen to 31.
The DMJ long-distance bus travelling from Cape Town to Mthatha crashed on the Kei Cuttings road between Butterworth and East London late on Monday afternoon.
The latest victim is a one-year-old girl who succumbed to her injuries at Frere Hospital on Wednesday.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Transport was still trying to locate a family member of the child in the hope of reuniting her with relatives.
Emotional scenes played out at the forensic pathology services in East London on Tuesday where the grim process of identifying the victims got underway.
Provincial Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said that 23 of the 31 victims had been identified.
The victims, who were travelling to Ngcobo, Dutywa and Mthatha, include 23 women, 5 men and 4 children.
The driver was among the deceased.
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Survivors reportedly said that they had to change coaches in Qonce after their first bus broke down.
DMJ-Transport, based in Cape Town, denied suspicions the driver may have been speeding.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has already begun the probe into the crash involving the bus.
