South Africa trying to contact families after Kabul blast

Forensic personnel cover a body at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Kabul September 18, 2012. Afghan insurgent group Hezb-e-Islami claimed responsibility on Tuesday for the suicide bomb attack on a minivan carrying foreign workers that killed 12 people saying it was retaliation for a film mocking the Prophet Mohammad. Image by: MOHAMMAD ISMAIL / REUTERS

South Africa's international relations and co-operation department has received the names of the eight South Africans killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday morning.

"We have received the names of the deceased and are working on establishing contact with families and next-of-kin," said spokesman Nelson Kgwete.

"They worked for a private aviation company operating in the country."

The SA High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan, was informed on Tuesday morning that eight South Africans were killed in the attack.

Kgwete said the department expressed its condolences to the friends and families of the deceased and that they would be given assistance.

- TIMES LIVE