Government to honour victims of 1949 Train Disaster

November 10, 2017 at 09:37 a.m

The Mpumalanga Provincial Government, Mozambique Consulate and the people of Waterval Boven will come together to mark the 68th anniversary of the 1949 Train Disaster in the area.
The aim of the commemoration is to acknowledge, celebrate and preserve the memory of   those who died in the accident in which 63 passengers perished in one of the most horrific railway accidents in South Africa. The accident happened when a train ferrying migrant workers from Mozambique derailed in a narrow bridge in Emgwenya, formerly Waterval Boven on 16 November 1949.
The dead passengers were buried in a mass grave in the area, which has since been developed into a memorial to honour the memory of those who died 68 years ago. The Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation together with the Mozambique government has been working hard to keep the memory of the deceased alive. In 2006, the South African Heritage Resource Agency erected a memorial in the graveyard. The Department unveiled a commemorative stone at the disaster site in 2010. This was done to ensure that the disaster site is developed and promoted as a tourist destination and preserved for future generations.

 

  The media is invited and the event is scheduled as follows:

Date    : Friday, 17 November 2017

Venues: Disaster Site and Emgwenya Cemetery

Time    : 09:00 at Train Disaster Site
              10:00 at Emgwenya Cemetery

ENQUIRIES: Ms Sibongile Nkosi 013 766 5372/082 492 4886 or nkosist@mpg.gov.za