Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Gabisile Shabalala expressed the negative impacts of road fatalities, speaking at the funeral of the Ndlovu family who lost their lives on the R544 two weeks ago.
On Saturday June 22, Orris Ndhlovu (33), Elsie Masombuka (28), Minienhle Ndhlovu (8), Ntombikayise Ndhlovu (6) and Luckia Masombuka (11) were laid to rest in Tweefontein.
The service which started at God Is Able Church saw official attendance of MEC Gabisile Shabalala.
Speaking at the funeral Shabalala decried the effects that road fatalities have on the country.
She explained that government loses a lot of money over road accidents and they also cast a cloud of negativity on the country in the eyes of potential investors.
Shabalala pleaded with road users to use the road with caution and consideration for others especially when embarking on longer distances.
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 which had five passengers, three kids and their parents who all lost their lives in the crash and the other vehicle was a Mercedes Benz sedan which had four friends, one who passed away, travelling together.
Sfiso Ndhlovu remembered his brother Orris as a loving family man.
“My brother was a people’s person and I am not just saying that. He was someone who could live with people, a loving father to his wife and children and he loved soccer” he said.
Orris Ndhlovu worked at SAPS Middelburg flying squad, a job he performed with all of his commitment and diligently said Ndlovu.
He concluded by adding that the family was dealing with the loss as best as they knew how.
Collen Kola who was a passenger in the Mercedes Benz expressed how he is recovering well from his injuries.
Kola who is grateful for his life escaped the accident with minor injuries.
“I have internal pains when I cough, but the hospital advised me to get pain killers for them” he told WITBANK NEWS.
The passenger who lost his life in the Mercedes Benz was Prince Manzi, a resident of Hlalanikale while Desmond Tandza, who was the driver, suffered serious injuries.
Thabo Kola, a friend of Tandza told WITBANK NEWS that Tandza was discharged from hospital on the morning of Tuesday June 25 and still had no recollection of the accident.
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