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3 children dead after tree slices through car

An innocent test drive turned into a gruesome accident which claimed the lives of three young children and the driver and left another child in a critical condition on Friday night.

This came after the speeding Golf 7 drove into a tree at 180 km per hour, slicing it in half. The three children Minenhle (5), Lethu (7) and Lwazi (10) Nkosi, from Extension 3 in Mhluzi, died on the scene and the driver at the hospital.

The son of the driver, Lefa Magagula (10), is in a critical condition at the Life Midmed hospital.
The driver, Joe Magagula (39), who was a family friend, had just upgraded to the brand new Golf 7 on Friday afternoon.

Mr Sphiwe “Thswarra” Nkosi, the father of the three children ,was on his way to Steers with his four children to buy dinner when they met Mr Magagula at the Engen garage.

Lwazi saw the new car and jumped out. Lethu and Minenhle followed suit and got into the car for a test drive.         Mr Magagula’s wife got out of the car to greet Mr Nkosi.

Before they knew it the Golf 7 drove of with the four kids inside.

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“Within 10 minutes we saw ambulances rushing up the road but did not make much of it until Joe’s wife alerted me that her husband was drunk, tired and a little excited about the car,” said Mr Sphiwe Nkosi
“We then followed the ambulances, when I saw the car sliced into two it felt so unreal.”

Mr Nkosi immediately phoned his wife to come to the scene where she saw her three little kids lay lifeless next to the wrecked car.

“I had to open them one by one, covered in blankets, to identify them on the scene,” said Mr Nkosi in agony.

Mr Nkosi recently bought a seven seater car to accommodate all his children.

“I always drove around with my children, when I come back from work they usually welcome me.”

Funeral arrangements were not confirmed by the time of print.

They leave behind both their parents, one brother(14) and a sister(12).
The children were learners at Dennesig Primary.

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Naledi Malekane

Journalist and Photographer -BA Degree Humanities and Social Sciences. I am committed, enjoy writing ,I always keep myself informed on issues affecting all aspects of our lives. I am a quick learner who can absorb new ideas and can communicate clearly and effectively. I get along very well with people, a skill which helps to win over the confidence of people. Multi skilled with an ability to build strong working relationships with fellow investigators, photographers, columnists and news editors. Currently looking for a suitable role in journalism with a reputable and exciting publisher. I also am a photographer.
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