Victims of N2 accident identified

THE two people killed in a fiery headon collision on the N2 near Chintsa last Thursday have been named as Bongiwe Geca and Zuzile Mgema.

Geca, 57, was driving a Renault Sandero and had been travelling from Butterworth to East London.

Mgema was driving a Mitsubishi Colt single-cab bakkie from East London to his home in Komga.

The Eastern Cape department of education said yesterday Geca was a deputy director of human resources for the Mbizana education district.

Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “According to the Mbizana district director, at the time of her death, Geca was on duty travelling from Mbizana to East London where she was expected to make a presentation that morning.

“The Eastern Cape MEC for education, the honourable Mandla Makupula, sends his sincere condolences to the Geca family and the Mbizana district for her tragic passing.”

Geca’s younger sister Nokuthula Geca said the deceased left her Mbizana home on Wednesday afternoon and spent the night in Butterworth.

“She went to East London for her work almost every week and as usual she rested in Butterworth. We were alerted to the accident by her supervisor who was driving behind her.

“He got to the scene as police were cordoning off the scene and he tried to call on her phone and her phone was off. He then got closer and he saw my sister’s car by its number plate,” Geca said.

She said the deceased was survived by her 36-year-old daughter and her 21-year-old son. She will be buried in Upper-Mjika village in Tsolo on Saturday.

Mgema was the brother of Great Kei Municipality ANC proportional representative councillor responsible for public participation and special programmes, Ntombizanele Mgema.

The accident occurred around 7am and upon impact, the vehicles caught fire, trapping both drivers. They were burnt beyond recognition. There were no passengers in the vehicles.

A case of culpable homicide was opened at the Bluewater police station. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za