By Matṧeliso Phulane
The ministry of foreign affairs and international relations has repatriated six more bodies of Lesotho nationals who perished in the devastating floods in South Africa’s province of Kwazulu-Natal in Durban.
This follows the assurance by that ministry’s principal secretary Thabo Motoko that the government would facilitate the repatriation of the Basotho.
The bodies were ferried to a Maseru mortuary today after last week’s repatriation of the other seven bodies who were also killed during rampaging floods that hit Durban two weeks ago.
The deceased are residents from Thaba-Tseka, Leribe and Qacha’s Nek.
They are Mpho Mpho, Limpho Bofelo, Refiloe Khali, Mikaele Maoeng, Mokhachane Letsie and one Nomfundo Makopo.
In an impromptu brief interview with the consulate general of Lesotho in Durban, Joalane Makepa, said there are still remaining bodies which are still missing. Those missing have been reported to her office. Others were only injured during the floods, she added.
“We urge Basotho to work hand in hand with the government of Lesotho to report names of victims who are still stuck in the catastrophic floods; so that they may be brought home.”Makepa said.
On behalf of the victims’ family members Lekhatla Bofelo from Maputsoe in Leribe district said Limpho Bofelo was an orphan and while he Lekhatla was his guardian.
“Limpho went out of the country to look for the job not knowing the disaster would one day hit Durban and take his life,” he said.
He added sorrowfully: “I would like to pass my sincere gratitude to the government’s ministry of foreign affairs and international relations and the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) for all their efforts to bring the remains of the deceased because some of the families would not afford the costs to bring back the victims,” he commended.
Bofelo said that as the family of the deceased they did not know where they would get money from to bury their son until the government of Lesotho came to their aid. He thought danger could occur unexpectedly and passed his condolences to the bereaved families.
