The president of the MKP and former president of the country, Jacob Zuma, was among the dignitaries who attended today’s (November 23) funeral service of the five party members who lost their lives in a horror accident in August.

The funeral service was held at the Emahhashini sports ground in Wembezi.

On the fateful day of the accident, the women were on their way to Nkandla to pay a visit to Zuma’s wife, Sizakele Khumalo Zuma. The taxi overturned between Greytown and Ntunjambili, and burst into flames. Five women died at the scene. Because of the fire, it was difficult for the deceased to be identified.

A sixth crash victim later died in hospital.

Taking the podium, an MK spokesperson in Uthukela said that five families were part of the mass funeral, as the family of the sixth crash victim chose to bury their loved one separately.

Addressing a packed marquee, MKP president Jacob Zuma said they are still in shock and can’t believe what happened; that a taxi accident took so many women’s lives in one day.

Their bodies arrived on Tuesday (November 18) after DNA tests were done.

Also read: Municipality cleans up taxi rank

Zuma praised one of the deceased for being so heroic in the wake of the accident. The young woman was initially able to escape the burning wreckage, but chose to go back to try and rescue her mother and other people who were trapped in the taxi. She failed to rescue her mother, but was successful in rescuing others. Zuma said that while she was in hospital, she shared how painful the accident was and hoped she would get better. It was heartbreaking to later receive the news that she had passed away in hospital.

Other top MKP members also attended the service, such as Willies Mchunu, Floyd Shivhambu, party deputy president and member of parliament Dr John Hlophe, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane (former public protector), Duduzile Zuma MP, and MK KZN Legislature members.

Here are the names of the deceased: Phumzile Magubane; Philisiwe Ngwenya; Hlengiwe Chonco; Lindiwe Dube; Lindiwe Mazibuko; and Victoria ‘Mom Vee’ Shelembe.

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