Baby died after collision
As a mother sat in the front seat of the ambulance, watching paramedics working on her 13-month-old baby boy, every so often tears would trickle down her cheek.
As a mother sat in the front seat of the ambulance, watching paramedics working on her 13-month-old baby boy, every so often tears would trickle down her cheek.
The accident occurred on Friday, July 22 at approximately 20:15 on the R575 towards the N4 highway.
A mini bus travelling to Mozambique with a loaded trailer collided with a heap of coal sludge that was in the middle of the road.
Within minutes emergency rescue teams arrived on scene.
Most of the patients were taken to hospitals in the area for further treatment.
“I was travelling along that road and then I collided into the stuff in the middle of the road, I did not see it as the road is dark and the stuff is black,” said the mini bus driver.
Just a few metres away the mother was cradling her baby who was in critical condition.. Medics on scene started Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on the baby as they called for back up.
On the R575 by Lesedi Village where a mini bus was on its way to Mozambique got involved in an accident on Friday, July 22
The mother who was injured herself was so concerned about her child she kept on asking the medics; “his shap, he will be fine” in broken English.
A medic had to cut off the traditional necklace from his neck, he handed it to the boy’s mother who then broke down.
The little lifeless body were put into an ambulance and was rushed to Witbank Provincial Hospital.
Throughout the night the nurses in the paediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) kept him stable.
Paramedic Ms Estie Biela, Medic Maritza van Niekerk from ER24 and Mr Riaan Veldsman from Middelburg Emergency Rescue Team (MERT) busy working on the 13 month old baby that was in critical condition after the collision on Friday, July 22.
On Saturday, July 23 at 06:20 the boy succumbed to the injuries and died.
He still has not been formally identified as his passport was lost in the accident.
It’s alleged that strikers from a mine in the area, dumped the sludge on the road and it was never cleared from the road before sunset.
More and more mini buses travelling to Mozambique are using the R575 to avoid the Middelburg Toll Plaza.
“South32 are aware of the protest action that took place on the R575 public road, which is near our mining operations in the Middelburg area,” said Mr Patrick Wadula from South32 Corporate Affairs.
The South African Police Services were monitoring the situation.
“The protesters are not employed by South32 and have not provided us with reasons for their protest. There is currently no labour unrest at any of our operations. We will continue to engage with the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality and local communities to address areas of community interest or concern,” continued Wadula.
“A medical and emergency response team from our Wolvekrans operation assisted the provincial ambulance services in tending to an accident on the Van Dyksdrift Road on the night of Friday, July 22,” said Wadula.
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