Three Tlokoeng families lost loved ones in the freak accident outside Middelburg on Sunday night.
All 15 occupants of the taxi died after a trailer toppled, crushing their vehicle.
The last two bodies were identified on Thursday as a mother and her two-month-old daughter.
Provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said: “All the bodies have been identified. The last two bodies were identified after the family travelled from Cape Town to come to identify them.”
Elundini local municipality mayor Mamello Letaba confirmed that all the dead were from the municipal area.
“Most of them are from the surroundings of Mount Fletcher (Tlokoeng) while others are from Nqanqaru (formerly Maclear).
“This is very sad for, not only the families but also for the municipality,” Letaba said.
“We are mourning. These were breadwinners whose families depended on them for survival. Some left young children and elderly parents behind.
“I cannot imagine what they are going through right now. We send heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.”
Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha sent his condolences to the families and called on road users to play their role in road safety.
The Dispatch spoke to some of the families, who are from different villages of Tlokoeng and Nqanqarhu — Nkangala, Luzi, Koloni, Tsolobeni, Mdeni, Ngqayi, Upper Tsitsana and Lower Tsitsana'
“We are mourning. These were breadwinners whose families depended on them for survival. Some left young children and elderly parents behind. I cannot imagine what they are going through right now. We send heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.”
— Mamello Letaba
Teboh Lesenye, 46, of Tsolobeni, who lives in Cape Town and works as a taxi driver, was driving when the accident happened.
His brother Tisang Lesenye said his death had left them devastated.
“We received a report that my brother Teboh was driving,” he said.
“He arrived here at home from Cape Town on Friday to attend the Saturday burial of our aunt.
“He left on Sunday after we’d done the morning post-burial rituals. He left in high spirits, saying he would be back soon to visit.”
Vuyokazi Kapteni, a mother of five, was on her way back to Cape Town where she worked as a cleaner in Mitchells Plain.
Her elderly father Daule Kapteni said the family was now left to raise and support the children, aged between six and 19, from social grants.
“My daughter had to be back at work on Tuesday. She kissed and hugged the children as she left.”
The Mbukula family from Upper Tsitsana inTlokoeng lost four loved ones — brothers Khangelani Mbukula, 50, and Nkosinathi Mbukula, 40, their sister Nwabisa Mbukula, 34, and their cousin Nontombi Sigayigayi.
Their mother Mandila Nomkhulu Mbukula was too distraught to speak to the media.
Her daughter Vuyelwa Mbukula said: “We have lost four family members in one accident. This is too much for the family to bear.”
She said that all four had arrived on Friday for the family ritual to rebury their great grandfather in Tsolo on Saturday.
“We were all very happy that our ancestor now rested in the right place,” she said.
“We did not know that the goodbyes we said were to be the last.”
Taxi owner Thandekile Ndyalvane, who is related to the Mbukula family, is devastated.
“So many people died in my vehicle. The Mbukulas are my family. I don’t care about the car, it means nothing.
“What is important are the lives of the people. I have not slept since the accident.”
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