DNA needed to identify bodies of students

04 May 2016 - 08:40 By POPPY LOUW

Police are collecting DNA samples from relatives of the victims of this week's Limpopo horror taxi crash to help identify the deceased. Police spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said identification would be made through DNA tests as the bodies were burnt beyond recognition."It is difficult to say when the process will be completed."That will all depend on the outcome, but we are working with the relevant families to do this," Ledwaba said.Parents and loved ones made their way to various hospital mortuaries yesterday to help identify the bodies of the seven Wits students who died in the crash.One of the six surviving students was discharged yesterday, another was transferred to Medi-Clinic in Mokopane, while the remaining four were transported to Charlotte-Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg.Wits dean of students Dr Puleng Lenka-Bula described the mood at the hospitals as "sombre".The students were studying law, engineering, actuarial sciences, education and social work."These are bright, young people who were going to contribute positively to the socioeconomic improvement of our country."When parents send their children to university, they hope for their safe return so they can celebrate their successes."Now there is just so much pain and sorrow," said Lenka-Bula.Social workers and psychologists were on standby to provide trauma counselling for the survivors and families of the victims.The Wits flag was flown at half-mast yesterday...

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