Thohoyandou - Seven relatives who were killed when their bakkie crashed into the Mutale River near Thohoyandou in Limpopo over the weekend will be buried during a mass funeral on Saturday.
Vhembe district mayor Falaza Mdaka visited the Mushanike family on Monday and told them the municipality would cover the funeral costs.
"We are planning a mass funeral for all the deceased so that they may have a dignified funeral this weekend. We, as government, are also ready to help the children who have been left behind with all their educational needs," said Mr Mdaka.
He said children who had passed matric should contact the municipality to see if they qualify for bursaries or other assistance to further their education.
The Mushanike family lived in Tshixwadza-Mapuloni near Thohoyandou.
On Saturday, seven of them were travelling in an Isuzu bakkie that hit and injured a man who had been sitting on a bench at a bridge over the Mutale River. The bakkie then swerved, overturned and fell into the river.
The family had been returning home after attending a funeral of another relative.
The deceased are: Solomon Mushanike, 47, Mmbulaheni Mushanike, 43, Andries Mushanike, 69, and Vuledzani Mushanike, 31, and their cousins Ndoweni Mulaudzi, 47, Naledzani Khashane, 39, and Mukhethoni Mudau, 36.
Family spokesperson Fhatuwani Mushanike said all the deceased were breadwinners in their families.
Mutale mayor Lucas Manyuha, councillors and Limpopo legislature member Maxwell Nemadzivhanani noted that the late Solomon Mushanike was a community builder in his area.
Solomon Mushanike was a school teacher at Ratshilumela secondary school in Tshixwadza-Mapuloni village. He owned and drove the bakkie that crashed into the river.
Vhembe police spokesperson Inspector Nkanukeni Raedani said police were investigating a culpable homicide case.
