File
Free State police divers recovered the body of the 7th child who drowned when a car was swept off a low-lying bridge on a farm near Steynsrus on Sunday.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, said on Monday, that this brought to eight the number of bodies that were recovered from the farm river.
He said two adult males survived the tragedy when their Honda Ballade was swept away by the fast-flowing waters.
Makhele told Algoa FM News that the adults, who were not the parents of any of the children, were ferrying them to another part of the farm on Sunday when tragedy struck.
He said the driver of the vehicle, 26-year-old Tshokolo Hlongwane, also drowned in a desperate bid to rescue the children.
"All seven children drowned and the police divers managed to recover six bodies of the kids and the body of the driver yesterday. They continued their search this morning and recovered the body of Karabo Kok (7) that was still missing," he said.
Makhehle also provided the names of the other children: Thapelo Tekanya 4yrs (boy), Ntaoleng Mpeko 13yrs (girl), Relebohile Mpeko 9yrs (girl), Mojalefa Mosibi 12yrs (boy), Bokamoso Maphakisa 8yrs (boy), Hopolang Monyatsi 6yrs (girl).
