UPDATE: U-turn not the cause of N2 horror crash

‘I SAW the vehicle spin sideways onto the oncoming traffic lane, almost as if it lost control.’

This is according to a witness of the N2 horror crash on Saturday in which two Veldenvlei residents lost their lives.

Sibusiso Goodwill Nitshingila (35) and his wife Similo (34) were travelling to Durban for their daughter’s 15th birthday when they were involved in a collision with a truck, travelling in the opposite direction.

Initial accident reports by police and traffic officials suggested that the driver of the Mercedes-Benz made a U-turn.

However, new information emerged this week when a witness and colleague of Similo, Johan Claassens, spoke to the ZO.

He said he was travelling to Durban in his Ford Ranger when he witnessed the accident in his rearview mirror.

‘I had seen the Mercedes while I was driving as we passed each other a few times on the way.

‘I was in the slow lane and decided to overtake a slower vehicle, moving back into the slow lane after doing so

‘I saw the Mercedes overtaking the same vehicle but it continued in fast lane, possibly intending to overtake me as well.

‘That’s when I saw the vehicle spin sideways onto the oncoming lane, almost as if it lost control,’ Claassens said.

The ZO was able to confirm this information with an officer at the Durban Accident Combatting Unit, who viewed the video footage from the truck’s dash cam.

Although Claassens and Similo were colleagues at Leomat Construction, Johan didn’t know up until Monday that she was one of the victims.

Sorely missed

Leomat Construction owner Leo Mattioda said she was a very special lady.

‘Everyone liked and admired her. On behalf of all the employees at Leomat, we mourn the loss of a beautiful and kind soul who died tragically and senselessly.

‘We offer our condolences, prayers and support to her children and family during this time of pain and grieving,’ he said.

Sibusiso’s cousin, Zanele Muthwa, told the ZO that ‘Sbu,’ as he was commonly known, was a business owner who was very much involved with his family.

‘He was such a quiet guy. He worked extremely hard to make a better life for his children and was very much a family orientated man,’ she said.

Still considered newlyweds, Sibusiso and Similo had yet to reach their one year anniversary after they were married in November last year.

They leave behind four children, who the ZO understands will be taken care of by Similo’s sister.

Their funeral will take place on Saturday at their home.

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