Woman relives lucky escape from crash

The kindness of pastor father saved daughter’s life

Nomthandazo Ngcamu had already put on her blue and white Zion church uniform and ready to board a minibus taxi ferrying congregants to a tombstone unveiling ceremony on Sunday morning when her father told her that she would not be going.

Her father‚ Pastor Fano Ngcamu‚ 86, who headed the Inkonyane Zion Church‚ had felt pity for her as she had arrived in the early hours of the morning from Durban where she works.

Little did she know that his kindness would save her life.

Less than two hours later‚ she received a chilling phone call that a minibus taxi transporting people who were wearing the same church uniform as hers had overturned and many of them had died on the spot.

In panic‚ she rushed to the scene of the horrific accident just up the tarred road from her home – the Msunduzi Bridge in Pietermaritzburg.

And her worst fears were confirmed when she arrived at the scene.

Her father‚ brother Siyabulela‚ 38‚ sisters Zodwa‚ 55‚ and Zanele‚ 54‚ were among 19 church members who had died.

She recounted the horrific scene of the accident during a prayer service held at KwaXimba Community Hall yesterday. “I’m the only one who is left to look after the family‚” she said.

Her brother left behind three children‚ one in matric and two others in grades 7 and 9.

Another woman‚ Sibongile Ndlovu‚ 46‚ broke down during the service after being overcome by emotion. She lost two aunts and a grandchild in the accident.

Eleven children were now orphaned. “There was no man in the family ... only these aunts. And now these children have no one to look after them.”

The driver is said to have told passengers the vehicle’s brakes were not working soon after picking up some of them in the valley.

It is believed that the taxi hit the barrier on the main road and rolled about 15m down an embankment.