Tough times for families

Most of the families of those who died in Sunday's plane disaster gathered at the Fairview River Lodge in Tzaneen, where four trauma counsellors helped them to come to terms with the tragedy.

Psychologist Carel Mouton said the families were "coping well under difficult circumstances".

Members of four families were being counselled in Tzaneen, while others were being consoled in Johannesburg.

Mouton said the families in Tzaneen were waiting to hear from police as to when they would be able to identify the bodies of their loved ones. "The families will probably leave on Wednesday [today] after they had closed the chapter of identifying [their loved ones'] bodies. At this stage we are awaiting word from police, but the families are holding up," said Mouton.

Journalists were barred from entering the lodge's premises.

Mopani district mayor Joshua Matlou and a counsellor from the Compassionate Friends support group visited the lodge to pay their condolences .

Family and friends streamed in throughout the day, with many breaking down in sobs as they arrived. Counsellors said the families had been inundated with messages of condolence.

In Durban, relatives and friends of one of the passengers, Kevin Woolacott, gathered to pay their respects at the Wings Club at Virginia Airport.

Woolacott, 48, was the chief co-co-ordinator of the Durban Airshow, which is held annually at Virginia Airport and was also a flight director at the event.

He was described as a "very passionate" person.

His wife, Bev, daughter Tamryn and son Richard were also present.

Bev and Kevin were married for 19 years.

As is the aviation club's tradition, a member of the Woolacott family rang a bell and everyone present faced west, while the names of all people who died in the plane disaster were read out .

Bev clutched her children, weeping while a moving poem was being recited in Woolacott's memory.

"He was a family man, passionate about anything and everything. He was always there for us, his family, and always gave his best in everything he did.

''He will be sorely missed by us. His son often went with him to many of the shows he attended," Bev said.