Truck accident claims two young lives

Residents of Tshaulu Ha-Gondo are still trying to recover from the shock, following a gruesome accident in which two nine-year-old boys were killed by a truck while boarding a school bus.

The incident happened last Thursday (5 August). The truck was allegedly speeding and ran off the road. It collided with the children as they were about to board their school bus. The two boys were pupils at Thomani Primary School in Gaba Village.

The exact circumstances leading to the accident still seem to be sketchy, but eyewitnesses believe that the driver tried to avoid potholes and lost control of the vehicle. Some also reported that the truck was driving without its lights on, despite the fact that it was still dark at 05:45.

The Limpopo police spokesperson, Motlafela Mojapelo, confirmed the incident. The police were called to the scene and on arrival found the two deceased children lying on the side of the road. The truck driver was arrested and charged with culpable homicide. Khangwelo Matoro (26) appeared in the Tshaulu Periodical Court on Friday, 6 August, and was released on warning, pending the Director of Public Prosecution’s decision.

Ms Rendani Nemakonde, the grandmother of Mulondo Nevhutalu, one of the boys who had been killed, said they were completely heartbroken. “Mulondo was such a bubbly child. I never thought I was bidding him farewell for the last time that morning. I can’t believe that I will never see him again. He told me that he loved me, and I should enjoy my day,” Nemakonde cried. Mulondo was in Grade 4.

Ms Thilaiwi Mutamba, the grandmother of the other boy who died in the accident, Nduvho Nemukula, is a hawker. The kids used to walk with her every morning as she sits close to where they board their school bus. She witnessed the crash and said she had never seen anything like it before. “I heard a loud noise coming from the road. It was still dark at the time. I tried to stop the oncoming cars, and community members arrived and helped me. Others called the police and ambulance,” she said.

“We are greatly saddened by what had happened here. Nduvho was still so young. If we knew that by sending our children to school, we were sending them to their death, we would rather have kept them at home,” she said.

The chairperson of Tshaulu Ha- Gondo’s civic organisation, Ms Joyce Netshifhefhe, said the whole community was deeply touched. “A dark cloud has fallen over the village. The area has never experienced such an incident. The pupils had dreams of completing school and pursuing careers,” Netshifhefhe said.

The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Mavhungu Lerule Ramakhanya, sent her condolences to the families of the victims. “We are truly saddened by what had happened. We wish the injured children a speedy recovery,” Ramakhanya said. The MEC is making a plea to all motorists to follow the rules of the road and drive within the prescribed speed limits.

Date:13 August 2021

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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