Emotional funeral for four bus crash victims

Hilda Pyle prayed as she gazed at her husband's lifeless face for the last time at a farewell ceremony for the bus driver who perished with 14 school children.

Colin Pyle, known as Oom Taan, died last week in a horror bus crash near Knysna.

The tragedy - one of several public transport accidents which claimed at least 76 lives in August - prompted Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele to order a nationwide safety crackdown this week on buses and taxis.

Mourners poured into the forestry hamlet of Rheenendal yesterday to say their final goodbyes to Pyle and three of his young relatives.

Maurishia Fiegeland, 15, Andre Fiegeland, 12, and Felicity Fiegeland, 10, were sitting just behind Pyle, their uncle, when the overloaded 32-seater bus rolled backward and plunged into a swollen river last Wednesday.

During the body viewing at the Pyle home, the children's mother Pauline Fiegeland stared straight ahead. She appeared to be sedated.

Dogs scattered and a crowd of mourners parted as matching white hearses transported the four coffins to the nearby Pentecostal Protestant Church.

Hilda, who travelled with her husband's coffin, said: "It will be all right, praise the Lord," as she stepped from the hearse.

Some 1500 people crammed into the church, draped in lilac organza with bright floral arrangements of asters.

Pastor Daniel Titus, who introduced himself as Hilda's cousin, said: "Oom Taan was a man I respected! It was a tragedy but it was the will of God."

Rheenendal Primary school principal Sammy Williams, his wife Kathleen and deputy principal Jacobus America wiped away tears, seated left of the pulpit. "Our family has lost 14 young opportunities," said America.

The other 11 young victims of the crash - the cause of which is still being investigated by police and provincial authorities - will be buried today.

Concerned parents delivered a letter complaining about the bus service provided by African Express at a meeting with America on August 2. Safety concerns were aired at the meeting but the school only sent the letter to education authorities after the accident.

Bronagh Casey, spokesman for Edu-cation MEC Donald Grant, said the letter would form part of an internal investigation.

She said 41 buses owned by JBS Transport, trading as African Express, were contracted to transport school children around the Western Cape.

The company is run by businessman Praveen Singh. "The roadworthiness of his [Singh's] vehicles is being tested and investigated ... we will take all the necessary actions to ensure that the safety of the learners is not compromised," said Casey.

Steven Otter, spokesman for Transport MEC Robin Carlisle, said the department had assisted with a forensic police investigation into the cause of the disaster. "While certain tests have been conducted by us and a brakes expert, the official forensic investigation is conducted by the SA Police Service," said Otter.

Police spokesman Malcolm Pojie said autopsy results and the final test reports on the condition of the 32-seater bus would be released later.

Singh's lawyer, Fareed Stemmet, said he would not comment. "I need more time to speak to Mr Singh and the other role-players. Mr Singh will put his side of the story on the record."

Singh faced an alleged bribery probe by police, related to a case involving a traffic officer who laid a complaint at the George police station on June 15. However, the case was later withdrawn.

But NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila this week said the case "is still with the police and we understand they are still busy with their investigations".