Ashley residents call for calming measures in Caversham Road
The urgent plea comes after Flora Nzama, a 63-year-old domestic worker was hit and killed by a car on her way home.
THE tragic death of a 63-year-old woman, who was hit by a car, has prompted Ashley residents to appeal for speed calming measures to be implemented in the area.
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Concerned residents are calling on authorities to take action after Flora Nzama, the sole breadwinner for her family, was hit on the corner of Caversham Road and Winston Churchill on Monday, 25 January.
Nzama, from Dassenhoek, worked as a domestic worker and was on her way to board a taxi when the incident happened.
Her employer, Karin Smillie, said Nzama was part of her family after working for her for the past 12 years.
“She was not just an employee, but a dear friend,” said Smillie.
On the day of the accident, Smillie said she received a call from Nzama’s granddaughter telling her that her granny did not return home.
“I had seen reports that there was a pedestrian who has been hit by a car but it never crossed my mind that it could be my precious Flora. It only clicked when people started sharing messages in the morning saying ‘poor lady’. This is when I enquired and went to the mortuary,” added Smillie.
Smillie said Nzama took care of her three grandchildren after her daughter died five years ago.
She added that Nzama was a loving and caring person by nature.
“I cannot believe that she is gone,” she said.
Jo Chananie, an Ashley resident, who lives one road away from Caversham, said the behaviour of motorists who use that road was ‘shocking’.
“I have been almost hit head-on there on more times than I can remember by cars leaving their single allocated lane,” she said.
Chananie said as much as he understands that Caversham is a major thoroughfare, it is still a residential area and people need to stick to the speed limit which is 60km/ph.
The resident said Nzama’s death was not the first fatality on that road.
“I truly believe that a balanced approach is needed. Law enforcement and speed humps would work well. How many people need to die before appropriate and effective counter-speeding measures are put in place?” asked Chananie.
Pinetown SAPS communications officer, Capt Bongumusa Manqele said a case of culpable homicide was opened at Pinetown SAPS.
“The woman was hit by a car on Monday, 25 January. She was unfortunately certified dead on scene and taken to mortuary.”
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