WATCH: Executive mayor visits bereaved bus crash victims’ families

The mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina, last week revealed preliminary investigations indicate the brakes of the municipal bus which killed two women outside the Boksburg Civic Centre Clinic on April 6 at about 8am were
not faulty.

Masina made this statement during his visit to the bereaved families of the deceased in Witfield and Buhle Park, respectively, on April 7.

The victims were Annatjie van Niekerk (61), a patient queuing at the clinic, and clinic security guard Livhuaani Mahashe (44).

MMC for community services Nomadlozi Nkosi was on the scene and said her heart goes out to the families.

“This is something you never wish on anyone and our sympathies to the families,” she said.
“These victims left their homes with the hope of returning to their loved ones, and then tragedy stuck.”

Addressing the van Niekerk family at their Witfield home, Masina said many people have made speculations but the brakes of the bus had been checked and were intact – however, a full report is pending.

“It is a coincidence that at our clinic our bus is involved in such a horrible accident,” the mayor told the family. I am here to pass on my condolences as a mayor and a citizen of this area and to say that we are here for you. We accept it is very sad as your mother went to the clinic merely for a check-up and little did anyone know we were going to experience what happened. “The driver is alive so it will make it easier to understand what happened,” he said.

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Masina said the full investigation report will be shared with the families so that they may have closure

Victims

According to metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, Mahashe and van Niekerk were declared dead by paramedics on the scene and the driver was taken to the Sunward Park Hospital for treatment.

Eye witness account
Meanwhile, according to an eyewitness from Angelo informal settlement, who asked to remain anonymous, she arrived at the clinic just after 7am and queued outside the gate.

“A security guard was present to sanitise people’s hands. Suddenly, we saw a speeding bus coming straight towards us from Market Street, next to the lake. Everyone ran in different directions. After a few moments, I saw the two bodies of the women on the ground. Everyone was screaming and crying. I am still traumatised. I fell when I was running,” she said

Family
Dennis Sanders, a family spokesperson, for the van Niekerk family, said they appreciate the support that they’ve received.

Mahashe’s brother, Ntambu Mahashe, said as a family they appreciate the mayor’s visit.

“When he was here we indicated to him that we don’t have enough money to bury my sister and he told us to speak to someone from his office who will be able to assist us. I have so far made contact with them and we are hoping to hear from them on April 9,” said Mahashe.

The security guard’s brother said the family is hoping to bury his sister on April 10 in Limpopo.

Meanwhile, Marrietjie van Niekerk, the 61-year-old’s distraught daughter, said she dropped her mother off at the clinic before the incident.

“I was at work when I got a call from my sister who was with my mother at the time of the incident, telling me that my mother is no more. We never expected something like this to happen as she has been treated at the clinic for epilepsy for the past 18 years. My mom was the softest and kindest person I knew,” said van Niekerk.

“I spent my 33rd birthday with my mother on April 5, but sadly, she is no more and the thought that I won’t celebrate my birthday with her next year breaks my heart,” she said.

Pastor Freddie Victor, of New Life Church, described Annatjie as a friendly and helpful person who never complained when she was asked to do something.

“She always helped out with our church’s feeding scheme where we feed about 180 people per day,” Victor said.

The security guard’s brother described his sister who lived in Ramaphosa informal settlement as a quiet person who never fought with anyone. “She was a good mother to her 21-year-old child, who has recently finished her BCom Accounting degree at the University of Johannesburg,” he said.

The driver
The 41-year-old bus driver is said to be in a stable condition in the hospital.

The bus driver was on his way back to the depot after his daily morning routine of dropping off passengers when
the accident happened.

Police investigation
Gauteng police spokesperson Capt Kay Makhubele said the driver has not been arrested. “The police are investigating two cases of culpable homicide,” Makhubele said.

Also Read: Watch: Municipal bus knocks over two women

Also Read: WATCH: Two killed at Civic Centre as bus brakes fail