The families of the victims of the R544 accident are left reeling after the horror crash which resulted in six fatalities, five from one family.
On Friday June 14 at about 20:00 police were dispatched to the R544, commonly known as Verena road where two vehicles had been involved in a fatal head on collision.
The two vehicles were a VW Polo sedan which had five passengers, three kids and their parents who all lost their lives in the crash.
The second vehicle was a Mercedes-Benz sedan that had four male friends who were travelling from eMalahleni to Marble Hall; only one of the passengers died.
Sifiso Ndhlovu who is the brother of Orris Ndhlovu (33) who was driving the VW Polo, recalls the call which sent chills down his spine.
Ndhlovu who lives in KwaMhlanga told WITBANK NEWS that he did not expect such a call to end off a day that was filled with smiles and laughter in the company of family.
Ndhlovu’s brother, Orris, was traveling back to Klarinet in Witbank with his family after his niece’s party that they were attending during the day. Ndhlovu decried the incident.
“As a family we are shocked and in disbelief of what happened. Orris and his family were here for my child’s fifth birthday party, we had a great day, my wife invited them over so we could have cake together” he said.
After his brother had left more than two hours ago and still had not called to inform him of their safe arrival, Ndhlovu said he started worrying.
“They left my place just after 18:00 and it was now around 20:00. They live in Klarinet so it does not take them that long to travel there. I was just about to call them when a call came through to inform me of the accident that had just happened.
I rushed to the scene and when I got there, the paramedics had not taken them out of the car because they said they were waiting for the pathology team. Seeing them lifeless in that car has left me with a mental picture I can never erase.”
Orris Ndlovu was traveling with his wife Elsie Masombuka (28), his two daughters Minienhle Ndhlovu (8) and Ntombikayise Ndhlovu (6) along with his wife’s sister’s child Luckia Masombuka (11) who was visiting them for the holidays.
A victim who lives to tell the tale of the accident is Collen Kola, who was in the Merdedes-Benz sedan. Kola explained that beyond anything else he is grateful for his life.
“The accident happened so fast. I was seating in the front seat so I believe we were in our lane. The next thing I saw was this Polo coming at us very fast” he said.
“The driver’s side got most of the impact, that is why the guy who was driving, is still in hospital.” Kola did lose a friend in the accident, Prince Manzi (25). Kola says he will remember him as the bubbly person that he was, “he was a good guy who loved making jokes and laughing” Kola said.
Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Gabisile Shabalala has since visited the grief stricken families.
“One road death is one too many. Losing five family members at a go is too much. We all need to play our role to bring an end to these tragedies” the MEC said.
The Mpumalanga provincial government’s communications department recorded 71 accidents with 23 fatalities and 42 people who were seriously injured over this long weekend.
