Cape Town - It was another heart-wrenching day for the families of the 12 fishermen who lost their lives at sea last Sunday as they were requested to identify the bodies on Thursday.
The men abandoned ship when their fishing trawler, the Lincoln, was hit by swells of up to six metres in what has been described as nightmarish conditions about 30 nautical miles off Cape Hangklip.
Eva Mitas, who lost her 26-year-old son Bertram, said it was “a very difficult week for her and her family”.
“You know I still had hope that it was not him, until I saw his face.
“But I am glad I saw him, it brought peace to me and my family.”
Mitas said her other son, who also works for the company, lost a colleague and a close friend.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana visited Viking Fishing, the company that owns the Lincoln and met with the management before inspecting the boat on Thursday.
Zokwana offered condolences to the families before briefing the media, saying that a lot could be learnt from the tragedy.
“We believe we can draw lessons on how to be better prepared in the future. We should not only see this as a lesson to Viking, but a lesson for all. We have to make sure that people are safe at sea.”
He added that no one should go to work and not come back home.
Financial director of Viking Fishing, Rory Williams, said the company was pleased to see the government getting involved.
“This is a massive tragedy for the company as well, to lose members like this is traumatising.”
He said the South African Maritime Safety Authority has launched an investigation into the incident but, “we can’t say too much about the investigation”.
Williams added that about 10 years ago the company suffered a similar tragedy when it lost 14 employees after one of its boats was in a collision near Port Elizabeth.
Those killed in the tragedy on Sunday have been identified as Cornelius van Neel, Peter Maroon, Bernard Thys, John Diedericks, Jacobus Juries, Deswal Mahala, Bertram Mitas, Deriek van der Heever, William Adonis, George Daniels, Ashwin Harding and Tauriq Martin.
Williams said the company was planning a memorial service for the deceased.
Cape Argus