Update
GEORGE NEWS - "The bomb fell in my lap, so I pushed it away." This is what a badly burnt Louwina Meiring (26) told her sister in hospital after a petrol bomb detonated in the Go George bus she was travelling in last Wednesday, 1 March at about 05:30.
The bus was travelling down Protea Road exiting New Dawn Park to take commuters to work when two petrol bombs hit the bus.
One of the bombs was thrown through a window on the driver's side in the back section of the bus and ended up in the middle of the aisle.
Meiring was sitting at the window through which the bomb entered the bus. She sustained second- and third-degree burn wounds to her face, arms and legs and was hospitalised along with 10 other people with various injuries.
Since the incident nine patients have been discharged from George Hospital. Meiring was flown to Tygerberg Hospital's ICU burn unit on Friday 3 March where she has been receiving care.
On Monday 6 March she underwent a skin transplant to her hands and upper legs.
"They [the doctors] can't give us much feedback today. She's under anaesthesia and sleeps a lot," said her sister, Sherlynne Rondganger. "We ask that everyone please pray for her and the other victims during their recovery."
A man who was also on the bus at the time of the explosion, presumably across the aisle from Meiring, is still in hospital. He also sustained serious burn wounds. However, according to district spokesperson for the Western Cape Health Department Nadia Ferreira, he is in a satisfactory condition.
Attempts by George Herald to contact this victim or his family were unsuccessful.
"Eleven patients were seen at the emergency unit at George Hospital on 1 March following a petrol bomb in a Go George bus. None of them were children. Seven were treated for burns and four for minor injuries. Nine patients have been discharged. One patient remains at George Hospital and another has been transferred to Tygerberg Hospital," said Ferreira.
The bomb went through a window at the back of the bus. Photo: Kristy Kolberg
No arrests
Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies confirmed earlier this week that no arrests had been made as yet. However, a reward has been offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the bombers.
George Mayor Leon van Wyk also visited some of the victims who were still hospitalised over the weekend.
The motive for the attack is still unknown, but it happened two days after George Municipality announced that the Go George service roll-out in Thembalethu was imminent.
On the scene, a commuter who was waiting for the bus said she saw two men approaching the bus on foot.
"The two men had bottles in their hands. One of the bottles went through the window and the second hit the side of the bus. The men thereafter fled on foot," said the commuter.
In preparation for the long-awaited roll-out of the bus service to Thembalethu, test drives were done through the area on Tuesday morning, 7 March.
The drives were supported and monitored by local law enforcement agencies.
The incident happened in Protea Road, New Dawn Park. Photo: Kristy Kolberg
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