Heartbreak after nine youths die in collision

THE Bezuidenhout community in Adelaide is bowed with grief and shock after nine young people were killed in a head-on collision on the R63 towards Fort Beaufort on Sunday night.

The nine, aged between 15 and 27 – five from the same family – were travelling in a Toyota Tazz between Adelaide and Fort Beaufort when the accident happened around 8pm.

There was a sombre mood on Tuesday when the Daily Dispatch team visited the grieving families at their homes. They were busy erecting tents for church services to take place every night leading up to the mass funeral.

The Dispatch was told by grieving dad David Trompetter that the youngsters had spent the day at Adelaide Dam, just 3km from town, but left to fetch two more friends in the nearby town.

Trompetter, who lost his sons Divan-Leroy, 23, and John-Paul, 15, said while his family was having a tough time coming to terms with the accident, he was at peace with the Lord’s decision.

The heartbroken father of seven said he realised something was wrong when they started calling the boys after 5pm and their cellphones were off.

He said a church friend’s daughter came to him crying with the bad news of the accident.

“When we got to the scene, the police would not allow us further than the red tape and at that moment I realised it was bad, but I had already made peace with it.

“The truck driver was devastated and I could see that he tried swerving out of the way. I have unconditional forgiveness for him.”

The family members gathered earlier on Tuesday morning to discuss and agree on a mass burial on Saturday.

An emotional Alvene Sauls Malahlana, who lost two children – Darren Malahlana, 20, and Tamson Nicole Sauls, 15 – said she feels as if they will still be coming back.

“They were just here and now they’re gone. It is still so unreal. I can’t describe how I am feeling, because I am just so empty.”

Joyrene Oliphant, who died in the crash on her 18th birthday, is the mother of a four-month-old boy.

Raymond Mhlaba municipality mayor Bandile Ketelo expressed his shock in a statement.

The other names of the deceased released by the Department of Transport are Mihlahi Mkhiswa, 15, Shaaly Williams, 17, and Nasha Williams, 24, of Fort Beaufort. —