In an appreciation email the couple’s son, Muhammed Vawda, shared the whole experience and his parents’ gratitude with a list of entities (including the Kruger National Park (KNP) and Lowvelder) on his parents’ behalf.
On August 24 Fawzia (65) and her husband, Hoosen Vawda (72), were about five kilometres from Satara Rest Camp when they heard a loud snapping sound from underneath their car, followed by a loud scraping noise against the tar.
“The vehicle veered off the road by itself, with both my mother and father trying to grapple with the steering, but the vehicle had lost all forms of control.
“With the car now heading (luckily at 40km/h) on a bundu-bashing collision course, intensifying bumpiness continued off the beaten track.”
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Even after hitting the first tree, the vehicle continued on with the Vawda couple now terrified. It eventually came to a standstill after hitting a thicket, leaving both occupants dazed.
At this point Hoosen, a recovering stroke patient, phoned Muhammed who was in Barberton and was unable to assist. Muhammed tried to reach Satara Rest Camp on a WhatsApp number, but due to possible reception issues, the message was not instantly answered.
Here, the first instance of ubuntu came to light. “A camper with two elderly Afrikaner couples stopped at the scene and offered to take my parents to Satara.
“My elderly mother; a victim of three whiplashes, a physiotherapy patient for plantar fasciitis and an old neuro-surgery patient, could not climb into the camper due to its height. The Afrikaner gentlemen fetched the mini-ladder in order for her to get into their camper.
“Noteworthy at this point is that within minutes from the breakdown, more than 40 fellow guests (from different race groups and ages) stopped with concern and offered help.”
They then headed off to Satara in the camper, while the car remained at the scene. “Meanwhile, I called Satara and spoke to Thabelo, informing him of my parents’ situation.”
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Fawzia was traumatised at this stage and upon arrival at Satara, section ranger Wilson made every effort to calm her down and did not leave her side for the next three hours.
After she had calmed down, the couple, along with ranger Wilson, headed back to the vehicle to collect their luggage. The ranger personally loaded it from the broken down car onto his bakkie.
He waited with them until a bungalow was made available and again unloaded their belongings.
“Both of my parents were very impressed by the compassionate and welcoming, hospitable spirit of the Satara office staff; and mom sings praises of the unique spirit of ranger Wilson.
“Thabelo reacted swiftly and was very helpful thereafter too.”
The Vawdas wanted to convey their heartfelt gratitude to each person involved in assisting them so preciously during the experience.
