THE tragic crash at the bottom of Field’s Hill two years ago in September, 2013, which claimed lives of 24 people, left a young man from KwaNdengezi with no hope for the future.
Msizi Shozi was left to fend for himself, as his father was one of the people who were killed in horrific accident, which shocked the Highway community. Msizi said his father, Sandile Shozi, was everything to him.
“He was more than a father – he was my friend, my ‘brother’ and my mentor. My mother passed away when I was very young and my father was my pillar of strength, he made sure that I never felt the gap left by the passing of my mother, he was my shoulder to cry on.”
Msizi said his family found out two days after the accident that his father was among the people who died.
“My father was a musician and he would travel to places with his band to perform. My stepmother called me after my dad did not return home and could not reach him on his cellphone. I was living with other relatives at the time.
“We started getting very worried on the second day when we still did not hear anything from him, it was unlike him to disappear.” Msizi said they knew about the accident but did not think he was among the victims.
“We started searching for him in hospitals and mortuaries all around Durban, with no luck. Our last resort was the Pinetown Police Station, where we found his ID. It had already been stamped ‘Deceased’.”
Msizi said they could not identify his father at the mortuary because of the state his body was in.
He said his wish is to study media studies, but can not afford the study fees.
Msizi said for the past two years he had just about given up on life. “But now I want to get my life back on track and study so that I can make something out of my life. I have accepted what happened and know that life goes on, although I still get emotional when I think about my dad,” he said.
The young man recently approached Karen Janisch, who is the founder of the Field’s Hill Helping Hands group, to ask for assistance and guidance. “Karen has been a godsend to all the families that were affected by this accident; she has supported us since the beginning.”
Msizi has a part-time job at Woolworths and the money he earns he uses for rent, groceries and toiletries.
Karen Janisch said she started the Helping Hands group to help the victims’ families by supporting them through the painful time. “We fundraise for food and clothes for the surviving victims and their families, and again this year in December we will have a Christmas party for the children.”
Janisch said they also have a lawyer who is helping the families with the Road Accident Fund claims.
“It has been two years and some people wonder why I am still involved in this project. I have come a long way with the families and I will continue to help wherever I can, this is not something that you can start and let go,” she said.
Janisch said she wishes to see all the children getting help with their education. “I believe that their parents would have fought for their children to get better education,” she added.
The truck driver, Sanele May, is serving his imprisonment after he was sentenced to eight years and ten months in the Durban High Court in November last year.
Janisch said most of the families have forgiven Sanele and he is also in a better space emotionally and mentally.
