MOURNERS gathered at eMawombe Sports Field on Sunday to pay their respects to the six Mnyango family members who died in an accident on the N2 in Mtubatuba on 31 January.

The funeral was attended by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, Transport MEC Siboniso Duma, uMfolozi Mayor Xolani Bhengu, uMfolozi former mayor Smangaliso Mgenge, KCD Mayor Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga, as well as community leaders.

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Nokuphakama Mnyango (85), Makhosi kaMnyango Mthembu (52), Mvuyani Gcaleka (43), Senamile Buthelezi (29), Lubanzi Buthelezi (6), and Ayanda Mthembu (12) were killed when the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with a truck.

Just three days later, another horrific accident claimed the lives of 11 people in Isipingo, south of Durban.

“I am running out of words for the affected families. I don’t know what to say to the neighbours to comfort them,” said Ntuli.

“I think we need to seek God’s intervention. In some cases, when you look at where the accident occurred, you find that the road is straight, and there was nothing that could have caused the accident.

“But when we get there, you ask yourself as to what caused the accident.”

He cited ‘human error’ as the biggest contributing factor for road accidents, and called for police visibility on the N2 to curb these fatal crashes.

He further said plans to revive railway lines would reduce the number of heavy-duty trucks on the roads.

“We have discussed the resuscitation of railway lines with mayors, as the government has a clear plan. We agreed that the issue of railway transport needs to be urgently rectified to reduce congestion on our roads.

“But we need to consider that we still have a responsibility to rehabilitate all our road infrastructure as well,” said Ntuli.

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