SA mourns bus crash victims

The government vows to ensure no repeat of the crash

Thousands of people have attended a funeral service in South Africa for the victims of a bus crash in which 51 people were killed.

The service, near the town of Kimberley in northern Cape province, was attended by President Thabo Mbeki and acting transport minister Jeff Radebe.

They have pledged to do all they can to prevent similar accidents in future.

The bus had been taking trade unionists to a May Day celebration when it crashed into a dam after the driver apparently took a wrong turn in the dark and foggy conditions.

Only 10 people survived.

Between 15,000 and 18,000 people came to the Galeshewe Stadium, outside Kimberley, for the funeral of 49 victims. Some had been waiting since 0500 local time.

Two of the victims had been buried on earlier occasions in other towns.

The coach had been carrying members of South Africa's main labour federation the Congress of South African Trade Unions to a rally in the early morning.

It skidded along a gravel path before plunging into the Saulspoort dam near the town of Bethlehem. The passengers were trapped inside because of poor exits.

'End complacency'

President Mbeki promised the government would make improvements to avoid another such crash, the South African Press Association reported.

"What happened at the Saulspoort dam should not happen again," he told mourners.

The crash has provoked widespread grief

"The government will do everything necessary to ensure that we achieve this result."

Mr Radebe promised a countrywide initiative to improve road signs and also called for adequate emergency exits in public vehicles.

"It is my fervent hope that the lingering tragedy of this disaster will help shock South Africans out of their apparent complacency when it comes to transportation safety," he said.

South Africa's roads have a reputation for being unsafe and claim more than 9,000 lives each year.

Alcohol, police corruption and unroadworthy vehicles are said to be some of the causes for the high death toll.