The Westdene Bus Disaster Memorials.
This page is in memory of those that perished,
and were affected by the events known as "The Westdene Bus Disaster"
On 27 March 1985, a Johannesburg muncipal bus, carrying pupils from Hoėrskool Vorentoe, left the road (Lewes Road) and plunged into the Westdene Dam. This tragedy came to be known as the Westdene Bus Disaster. I was training apprentices when it happened, and for me it was one of those defining moments in your life. The cause of the accident was never really explained, although theories abounded and speculation has been rife ever since. The sad facts are that 42 boys and girls died on that day, the driver survived, but could never explain what happened. He was exonerated in the subsequent enquiry. The emergency exits in the bus were severely criticised as being almost unbreakable.
The children were mostly buried in West Park Cemetery in a especially created area in the main road of the cemetery, 2 more were buried in private graves in the cemetery and 3 may have been cremated or buried elsewhere. Sadly the graves have been deliberately desecrated and today the plot still attracts the curious and flowers still get left behind by famly and those who remember the disaster. A memorial was finally erected at Westdene Dam in 2009, not quite where the bus left the road, but you can see the fateful spot from it.
The Westdene Dam Memorial can be found at Google Earth Co-ordinates 26° 10.798'S 27° 59.497'E, or Download the KMZ file, while the gravesite in West Park Cemetery can be found at 26° 9.662'S 27° 59.646'E
You can also visit The Wikipedia page on the disaster. or the webpage dedicated to those who lost their lives on that fateful day.
