Three census field workers, who died in a vehicle accident when the driver of a vehicle they were traveling in lost control last week, were buried during a mass funeral at the Tshikwarani Apostolic Faith Mission last Saturday.

Ms Lusani Mashaba (20), Ms Tsilahale Manavhela (27) and Mr Tsumbedzo Phaswana (30) were laid to rest at various cemeteries in their villages after the funeral service.

The workers were returning from farms in the Waterpoort area.  Six people were injured in the accident. Several of the injured are still nursing their wounds at the provincial hospital in Polokwane.

A traditional leader, Chief Vho-Nkhangweni Manavhela, said that the entire community was extremely shocked. "We are greatly saddened about the death of the three. They were still very young and we had expected a lot from them," said Manavhela, a relative of one of the deceased.

He expressed his appreciation to Statistics South Africa for the assistance during the funeral arrangements.