Bloody bus crash horror
In beachfront tussle New plans on Highway crime Victim’s aunt tells of terrible injuries
TNames
HE aunt of one of the eight children who died in a fatal bus accident near Ulundi, has described the horror of the search for her nephew and the bloody state of the injured children at the hospital.
The bus, carrying 43 pupils and four teachers, overturned on the R66 on Tuesday evening.
The children were from Zamimpilo Special School for mentally and physically disabled children.
Police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed the names and ages of the children who died: Mcebisi Ndwandwe, 15, Nomusa Makhoba, 22, Sakhile Magagula, 14, Lundi Biyela, 15, Phumzile Zulu, 24, Nosipho Zulu, 16, Lungisani Fakude, 17, and Sibonelo Myeni,17.
Mcebisi was trapped in the bus and died at the scene, his family said. He represented his school in the soccer and netball games in Richards Bay on Tuesday.
Mcebisi’s aunt, Rose Ndwandwe, who volunteers at the school in the evenings, said she was told of the bus accident by a security guard at the school.
She rushed to the KwaCeza Hospital, where she was able to help identify the injured pupils.
“My head was spinning when I heard that the kids had been involved in the accident. My first thoughts were, ‘where is Mcebisi? Is he safe?’” she said. “I didn’t know what to think. “I was running around uncontrollably at the school, not knowing what to do. I was scared,” she said, in tears.
When Ndwandwe arrived at the hospital, she saw pupils being brought in on stretchers, and said some were unrecognisable because of their injuries.
“I was heartsore when I realised how badly hurt they were.
“I helped identify the children, but I had still not seen Mcebisi,” she said.
Ndwandwe learnt of her nephew’s death when she spoke to one of the injured pupils.
“I realised he was gone, I asked myself who will call me ‘mama’ now. It’s so tragic,” she said.
Mcebisi’s mother, Bonisiwe Ndwandwe, said her son lived at the boarding school and she had last seen him during the Easter holidays.
The distraught mother, who could barely speak through her grief, was wrapped in a blanket in an empty hut in KwaCeza when the Daily News visited her yesterday.
“He was a decent child, he listened to his elders and had ambitions of being a policeman,” Bonisiwe said.
She said Mcebisi was the third of her six children to die.
KwaZulu-Natal premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the accident was a continuation of the commentary about safety on the roads of the province.
“We have recently seen a spike in accidents which have resulted in unnecessary injuries and deaths of young pupils, either as a result of driver negligence or mechanical defects,” he said.
“What is disturbing is a report that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He is currently under police guard at KwaCeza Hospital,” he said.
Mkhize said “enough is enough”, and called for law enforcement agencies to act against motorists with unroadworthy vehicles.
He said two pupils had been transferred to Ngwelezane Hospital for further treatment.
Zwane confirmed the bus driver is in hospital, but has been arrested and once discharged, he would be formally charged with 8 counts of culpable homicide.
Acting KZN Transport MEC, Dr Sbongiseni Dhlomo, expressed concern about Tuesday’s accident and others.
“Just last week two vehicles collided head-on in Melmoth, leaving six people dead, and now we are hearing about this accident.
“This is totally unacceptable because such accidents can be avoided… I would like to send my deepest condolences to families of the bereaved. We are deeply saddened by this as the government. However, it is advisable to all road users to adhere to the rules of the road,” he said.
Dhlomo and Education MEC, Senzo Mchunu, yesterday visited the accident scene and the injured pupils at the hospital.
Yesterday, Transport Minister Ben Martins appointed an accident specialist to investigate the crash.
The Department of Transport said road accidents were the leading causes of death among the 15 to 29 age group and cost the economy R306 billion a year.
Alcohol abuse caused half of all injuries and deaths on the road, which resulted in serious social and economic costs for the country. THE airline pilot who famously inspired a nation has died .
Captain Laurie Kay was the man who piloted the Boeing 747 over the heads of awe-struck Bok fans at Ellis Park Stadium before the kick-off of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks – a moment etched into rugby folklore.
Kay, 60, retired from SAA as a senior training captain after a distinguished career, but continued in the field he loved working with the SA Express cadet pilot programme and the Harvard Club.
A relative said Kay also helped SANParks with its anti-rhino poaching operation, and had been at Skukuza Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park when he suffered a heart attack and died yesterday.
The website www.flyafrica.info described Kay as “one of South Africa’s greatest aviators”.
The relative said a film had been produced showing a number of great moments in Kay’s flying career – such as the 1995 final, and a fly-past at Nelson Mandela’s presidential inauguration at the Union Buildings.
Kay was quoted explaining: “Once we commenced the run-in we were committed, because three 747s in close formation is a very big formation to reposition again for a second run in.
“As it was, an advertisement was made saying: ‘We’re sorry Mr President, we were three seconds early.’
“SAA rode on that advert for some time,” Kay joked.
Kay donated all the proceeds of the film to the SA Guide Dogs Association.