No promised aid, claim families of 10 accident victims

The relatives of 10 women who were killed when a bakkie rolled backwards down a hill into a forest in Elliotdale in August say they have been left high and dry by the government.

The women — Nosetshile Tekana Gqamani, No-Amen Marelani, Nophethile Nomaqhu Qhekeza, Nokwakha Dlebethu, Nowanele Kala, Ngxaliwe Silumko, Nonikele JayiJayi, Novumile Silumko, Nongejile Sigenye and Ntombencinci Matshwetshwede — were travelling from Mpahle location towards the Thafalehashe administrative area to mourn with grieving fellow churchgoers at the time.

The victims’ families claim financial support for funeral arrangements promised by the Eastern Cape transport department has never come.

Zonke Kala, whose mother Nowanele died in the accident, said her family was now in debt as a result of funeral expenses.

Kala said that days after the incident transport department officials had told the families the department would assist with burial arrangements, including tombstones, and had even suggested a burial date of September 1.

“After that announcement they went quiet. Towards the proposed date we could see they were not keeping their promise and families conducted the funerals with their own money,” Kala said.

After the funeral, state officials, including their ward councillor Lungisa Mahobe, had proposed a meeting for September 8, a meeting that never materialised, she said. A second date of September 15 was proposed.

Mahobe had chaired the meeting, in which it was announced that R150,000 was raised, of which R50,000 had already been spent.

They are telling us they will provide us with groceries, but the groceries are not going to help us repay our debts

The remaining R100,000 would be deposited into an account of a major supermarket in the area, which in turn would give groceries to the families over six months.

Mahobe could not be reached for comment. His phone has rung unanswered since Sunday afternoon.

Lindile Marelane, whose mother No-Amen died in the accident, said: “After we were promised financial assistance we went into debt and we don’t know how we will get out.

“They are telling us they will provide us with groceries, but the groceries are not going to help us repay our debts.”

The families also want to know the results of the investigation that police and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) launched.

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane told Dispatch the report “has been finalised and forms part of the police docket”.

Asked whether the affected families had been notified of the finality of the investigation, Zwane said: “I have no authority to release it at this stage.”

In relation to the promised financial support, transport spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said outside the support provided through the RAF (Road Accident Fund), “the department has not promised financial assistance to the families of the victim”.