Barberton pedestrian accident: Mother mourns son (10)
The mother of the boy who was killed in a pedestrian accident in Barberton, said she will not find closure unless she speaks with the driver of the vehicle involved in her son's death.
A mother sobbed at the scene where her 10-year-old son had been killed on his way to school on June 7.
The boy let go of his teacher’s hand in an attempt to escape an approaching vehicle, which nevertheless resulted in his death.
Nelisiwe Singwane sat on a blanket next to the R40 just outside Barberton where her son, Andisa Maseko, was killed on his way to Ekhiyeni Primary.
According to Hi-Tech Barberton, Andisa was killed when a motorist tried to swerve out for children crossing the road, hitting him in the process. Emergency services declared him dead on the scene.
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An eyewitness to the incident, who wished to remain anonymous, said two vehicles had stopped at the pedestrian crossing near the school where a teacher and two children whose hands she was holding were crossing the road.
As the motorists of the other cars were waiting for them, the driver of a Nissan bakkie overtook them. Upon seeing the approaching bakkie, Andisa tried to escape by letting go of the teacher’s hand. According to the witness, the bakkie hit Andisa and drove over him. The teacher was on scene, but declined comment.
Furious community members had allegedly been assaulting the driver upon the SAPS’s and Hi-Tech’s arrival. He was taken to hospital.
According to the police members on the scene, the driver was searched for a licence, but none was found on his person.
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An emotional Singwane said she had sent her son to school with the hope that he would be safe. Not long after, teachers arrived at her house to notify her of her son’s passing and requested that she accompany them to the scene to identify his body.
“He was a bright child and always looked forward to going to school. He was very clever and liked to play soccer as well,” said Singwane.
She is battling to come to grips with her son’s passing, and said the only way she would find closure was if she could speak to the bakkie’s driver about what really happened. “Why didn’t he stop when he saw the other cars stopping?”
Colonel Donald Mdhluli, a provincial police spokesperson, confirmed a case of culpable homicide is being investigated.
