Thirty-five of the victims of the Westdene Bus Disaster were buried in the Heroes Acre of the Johannesburg Westpark Cemetery on 1 April 1985 during a mass funeral ceremony. Caroline Brown and Albertus Ouwenkamp are buried elsewhere in Westpark, while Adriana Horn and Riaan Lira were cremated. Thelma Buitendag may be buried in another cemetery, or was cremated.
Memorial Plot at Westpark Cemetery. Photo by DR Walker
A memorial was erected in 2009 on the North-western bank of the dam off Tenby Str. Vorentoe High School holds an annual Memorial Service to commemorate the passing of the 42 victims.
The Ceremony
Above right: A guard of honour in traditional firefighter dress complete with brass helmets and axes. These men and women live to help others. Yet, few of us realise how helpless they sometimes feel when they have to face the public, lacking the resources they ask for because of the way budgets are spent. Money to start up a water-wing for the fire department was denied three times prior to this disaster.
The Westdene Bus Disaster Memorial
A memorial was erected in 2009 on the North-western bank of the dam off Tenby Str. Vorentoe High School holds an annual Memorial Service to commemorate the passing of the 42 victims.
Right: Westdene Bus Disaster Memorial. Photo by DR Walker
Below: Westdene Bus Disaster Memorial. Photo by DR Walker
Desecrated Graves
Many of the graves were desecrated (see below). There are no words to describe the disgust one feels for the criminals who damage these graves.
The Westpark Cemetry
The Heroes Acre is indicated in the Google map below by the small red marker:
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