Rathidili road claims three more lives

Three people died while trapped in the wreckage resulting from a head-on collision on the road from Rathidili to the Makhado Air Force base on Sunday.

It took rescue workers several hours to remove the trapped victims from the wreckage. The mood was sombre for the hundreds of curious onlookers and family members who kept vigil at the scene of the accident. Rescue workers had to use the "jaws of life" to cut away the wreckage to get to the trapped victims.

Some onlookers wept openly and family members had to be helped by emergency personnel as they were on the verge of breaking down. It was one of the most ghastly accidents ever in the Sinthumule area.

The deceased are W/O Majila from Makhado AFB, Sibusiso Baweti (21) and Ms Kedibone Majika (33), a driver of one of the vehicles. The injured who are still at hospital are Benedict Nobula from Makhado AFB, the other driver and members of the Majika family, Johana, Mathipa, Lehlonono and Mohapi.

Tshilwavhusiku police spokesperson Const Thilivhali Malowa said that they had opened a culpable homicide docket. She described the accident as one of the most serious to have happened in the area.

Ms Cynthia van Rensburg from the Road Accident Fund said that they were going to consult with the families of the deceased to institute claims for the loss of support for the surviving dependants. "We also wish the victims a speedy recovery," she said.

Date:24 July 2015

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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