A GRIEVING eSikhaleni family is still grappling to come to terms with a tragic death of two teenage sisters after a hit-and-run accident on Saturday evening.
While walking with a friend to the shop along the pavement at 7pm, a white Corsa bakkie allegedly knocked them over.
The Mbatha siblings, aged 18 and 16, died instantly.
The driver allegedly fled the scene, leaving them in a bloody pool on the hard pavement.
Their friend and eye witness Ncamisile Nxumalo, told the Zululand Observer that the vehicle moved from the left lane of the road, and knocked them over.
‘We were just going to the shop and walking on the right-side pavement. A speeding car suddenly hit us and we fell on the ground. I was lucky because only my left arm was hurt. When I realised what had happened, I covered their exposed bodies with a jacket and screamed for help,’ said Ncamsile.
Shortly after the incident, eSikhaleni police spotted the speeding car at the township mall, about 500 metres from the scene.
According to eSikhawini SAPS spokesperson Lt Thembinkosi Mkhumane, police pursued the car for more than 3km.
‘Police chased the car and the driver was arrested at Maholoholo area, outside eSikhaleni.’ said Mkhumane.
Bongumusa Manyoni was charged with culpable homicide. He appeared at eSikhawini Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for a bail application.
The family
The Mbatha family want justice. The older sister Sindi Mbatha, said they hoped the law will take its course.
‘It is so painful because it seems like the driver didn’t care. He didn’t even stop to check if they were dead or alive. We lost two beautiful sisters who had a bright future.
‘One was in Grade 11 and the youngest was in Grade 10.
‘I don’t think I will ever get over what happened,’ said a tearful Sindi.
‘What makes it even more painful is that, even when we were in court on Tuesday, nobody from the driver’s family said anything to us. They didn’t even come to apologise for what happened.’ she said
On Wednesday, their aunt Nomusa Hobe said they were busy with funeral arrangements and the sisters will be laid to rest in their home town on Sunday.
