Bodies of miners expected

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THE bodies of 22 illegal Zimbabwean miners, who died after inhaling poisonous carbon monoxide in a disused mine in Rodepoort west of Johannesburg in South Africa, are set to arrive in the country tomorrow morning for burial.

THE bodies of 22 illegal Zimbabwean miners, who died after inhaling poisonous carbon monoxide in a disused mine in Roodepoort west of Johannesburg in South Africa, are set to arrive in the country tomorrow morning for burial. LINDA CHINOBVA OWN CORRESPONDENT

In an interview with Southern Eye, chief executive officer of Kings and Queens Funeral Parlour Reuben Naran said preparations to repatriate the bodies were at an advanced stage and they would be leaving Johannesburg tomorrow evening by road.

Queens and Kings Funeral parlour chipped in to help in the repatriation of the bodies at a cost of R78 000 after learning of the tragic event.

The costs include the coffins.

“The bodies of the deceased will be ferried by road and will leave Johannesburg on Friday (tomorrow) evening and definitely by Saturday the bodies will be in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Naran said there would be a big memorial service for the deceased this morning in Johannesburg at the Kings and Queens Funeral Parlour.

The deceased hail from Nkayi (14), Tsholotsho (2) Gokwe (9), Kezi (1) and Kwekwe (1).

It is believed that some bodies are still trapped in the mine, but South African emergency services personnel are reportedly reluctant to risk the lives of its workers saying the poison levels in the disused shafts were too high.