Bend claims another life
Another life was lost on the bend in Walter Sisulu Street next to the Middelburg Hospital and Buco after a horrific accident last week Thursday.
Zodwa Linah Mahlangu (55) died when the vehicle she was travelling in spun out of control, right into the path of Chantel Swart’s car.
Ms Swart (24) was taken to hospital with serious injuries, she has since been transferred to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg where she is being kept under sedation.
According to the police accident report, wet conditions caused a Toyota Hilux bakkie, with four occupants, to lose control around the bend whilst travelling in the direction of eMalahleni. The vehicle overturned and rolled into oncoming traffic, in the process rolling over a Toyota Corolla with one occupant.
Three people, whose identities are unknown, sustained minor injuries. According to Mrs Mahlangu’s daughter Gladys, her mother works as a domestic worker in Middelburg but stays in eMalahleni.
She does not know the other occupants of the Hilux and says that her mother was catching a lift back home after finishing work. Mrs Mahlangu will be laid to rest in eMalahleni.
Ms Swart’s father, Tjaart Venter, says that his daughter has got nine bone breaks in her body. Machines are currently assisting her to breathe and she is scheduled to undergo several operations in the next few days.
“They say that she is hanging in there but I do not fear, because Jesus Christ is my God. He is the only Living God. He gives me peace,” says Mr Venter.
Minenhle (5), Lethu (7) and Lwazi (10) Nkosi, from Extension 3 in Mhluzi, were declared dead on the scene whilst the driver of the vehicle Joe Magagula (39) died in hospital.After the horrific accident, rumble strips were installed on the road surface before the bend from either side.
• Recent wet conditions saw numerous less serious accidents at the same spot recently. A person who works at the Middelburg Hospital told the Middelburg Observer that she witnessed up to six cars spinning out of control around the bend, on one day.
“They spin like they are driving over oil,” the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
