Four die in horror crash
FOUR family members were killed in a car accident on a notorious section of the N2 on Saturday night about 10km outside Mthatha.
The two brothers – Makhalima Mxathule, 65, and Zamekile Mxathule, 72 – and two close cousins Nozolile Mxathule, 49, and Nokwandisa Neti, 47 were returning from a traditional initiation graduation ceremony at Maqanda village in Ngcobo to their home in Tsolo when their Toyota Quantum taxi collided with a truck travelling towards Mthatha near Sibangweni village. This notorious stretch has claimed many lives in crashes.
All the deceased live in Tsolo’s Nomhala village.
More than 50 people, including forensic police experts, emergency services personnel, traffic officers, villagers and curious motorists were gathered at the scene of the accident when the Daily Dispatch team arrived at 9pm on Saturday.
A section of the road was cordoned off for hours as rescuers tried to check for more bodies under the overturned truck.
The jaws of life were used to free bodies trapped in the wreckage.
The body of Makhalima Mxathule, who was apparently the taxi driver, was covered in a green blanket next to that of his brother, not far from the wives of their cousins.
Others involved in the crash were rushed to a hospital in Mthatha. Eight were treated and discharged the same night, and another was discharged yesterday.
One who escaped the horrific accident without a scratch or a bruise, was Weziwe Mxathule, the daughter of the taxi driver.
“I though we were all going to die. I cannot understand that the joy they had the whole day in Ngcobo could now end so tragically.” —