Three children die after being hit by a car

The sad deaths of three young children, aged between 7 and 12, would have gone unnoticed if it was not for a visit from the Johannesburg Department of Community Safety to Jacksonville informal settlement to honour them.

Their deaths came to the knowledge of the Southern Courier about three months after the incident took place.

These young lives were lost in an accident when five children were hit by a car, on March 29, in the settlement.

Aluncedo Phahlindlela (10), Buhle Phindani (12) and Phelokazi Bewana (7) lost their lives while Tshepo Phahlindlela (5) and Didintle Letsholo (13) were badly injured.

Phelokazi was laid to rest on April 5, Aluncedo was laid to rest in Lesotho on April 22, and Buhle in North West on April 9.

The Johannesburg Department of Community Safety notified the Southern Courier of their visit to the settlement to honour the children during the United Nations Global Road Safety Week on May 20.

Tragic deaths

According to a member of the Road Safety Council, Njabulo Phakathi, the five children were playing near their homes when the vehicle, travelling at a high speed, hit them. It has been reported that when the children saw the vehicle coming, they moved out of the way and pressed themselves against a precast wall to make way for the car.

Njabulo said that driver lost control of the vehicle, hit another vehicle and then swerved in the direction of the children, hitting them while they were leaning against the precast wall.

The minors were rushed to hospital, however, three lost their lives.

“We, the Road Safety Council, are a voluntary group that helps pedestrians cross the R82 freeway safely while ensuring that everyone is safe on the roads whether a driver or pedestrian. It broke my heart to see this happening because we are taken for granted by the drivers simply because we are not JMPD officers and we are being sworn at on daily basis by the motorists,” Njabulo expressed.

Shattered world

Zandile Phahlindlela, the mother of Aluncedo and Tshepo said that she was at work when she received a call that her two children have been rushed to hospital because of the incident.

She told the Southern Courier that her earth was shattered immediately because she fetched Aluncedo and Tshepo three months prior to the incident from their grandmother in Lesotho. “I fetched them to live with me only for this to happen.

“My little girl’s injured, lifeless body was the first thing I saw when I arrived at the hospital while my son, Tshepo, received medical care from the doctors. In my whole entire life, I have never felt the way I am currently feeling because I keep on replaying the day in my mind and I miss my daughter so much,” said an emotional Zandile.

Zandile said that she would like to see her children getting justice from all relevant departments as she has lost her daughter and had to face Tshepo who had a broken arm and leg.

Road fatalities by JMPD

Eight departments – Department of Transport, social workers, JMPD, SAPS, GGT2030, EMS, Faraday Taxi Association and Department of Community Safety – joined the initiative to educate members and drivers of the community about the importance of adhering to road rules and regulations.

JMPD officer Zanele Sithole said that a person killed immediately or passing away within 30 days as a result of a road injury accident is referred to as a road fatality.

According to Zanele, they have noticed a pattern on the R82 freeway of people losing their lives every year and they have prioritised monitoring the road on daily basis to avoid losing lives.

“I don’t know even how to express my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones because the roads rules are made clear for licensed drivers. Young lives full of potential were lost in a tragic way. We urge drivers to follow the rules to avoid what has occurred,” Zanele said.

Condolences and help

The various officials from all the departments visited the families who lost their children and offered all sorts of assistance to help them cope, get justice and apply for compensation from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for their children.

Central corridor deputy director of Department of Community Safety, Nhlanhla Siswana, said that this department will ensure that this case gets the attention it deserves as they have started putting pressure on Mondeor SAPS.

“We have arranged with all the pertinent personnel who will help the families, from social workers down to RAF officials. We are doing this to ensure that fraudsters do not interfere with the process which may impact the families even worse if it occurs,” Siswana concluded.