The Inspector General of the Namibian Police has confirmed to NBC News that one of the women who died in the Saturday accident, five kilometres outside Mariental, was pregnant.

Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo said that the police officers were called to assist and transport the pregnant civilian mother to the Mariental hospital.

The police then picked her up, accompanied by her sister, in the police van.

Both the pregnant woman and her unborn baby, as well as her sister, died at the scene.

They were among 16 lives lost in the incident.

Minister Lucia Iipumbu announced a mass memorial to be held in Mariental on Wednesday morning.

"We are planning for an official memorial that will be held at Mariental on Wednesday. Every life is precious, and the loss of so many lives at once is a national tragedy that left us shaken."

She said all autopsies for the deceased would be finalised on Tuesday. This is to fast-track claims from the MVA Fund, which will pay out N$7,000 to each of the family members of those who died.