Paralysed after taxi crash
IMPLE things like walking her children to school or kicking around a ball with her son have become just a memory for KwaDukuza (Stanger) mother Asheena Govender.
On February 15, two days after she married a second time, she was travelling to work in a minibus taxi when its brakes failed, causing the vehicle to somersault. Govender was trapped inside. “I was sitting behind the driver, next to the window and there was a loud noise. The conductor asked the driver what happened and he said the brakes had failed. Immediately after that he took a sharp turn and all I remember was the taxi somersaulting,” she said.
“The conductor managed to pull me out of the taxi and left me on the pavement. I remember being in pain and unable to feel my legs.
“A few friends and family who heard about the accident came to my aid and took me to Stanger Hospital.”
The mother of three said doctors found that she had severe internal bleeding and a ruptured spleen.
“I underwent an emergency operation to remove my spleen. I also had six fractured ribs on my right side and my spine at level T 1112 was crushed, which rendered me a paraplegic from the waist down.”
Govender said excess fluid was drained from her lungs.
“Because of all my injuries, I was heavily sedated. I stayed in the theatre recovery rooms until an ambulance was available to transfer me to Inkosi Albert Luthuli (Central) Hospital. I was admitted to the trauma ICU.”
She went into theatre on February 28 for a spinal fusion as the crushed discs in her spine had to be stabilised and the pressure on her spine released.
“This procedure was done to stabilise my spine, not to correct my paralysis. I am now receiving physiotherapy and trauma counselling. The doctors cannot tell whether I will be able to walk again.”
She said her life had been turned upside down when she had been looking forward to a fresh start.
She married her partner, Laven Govender, on February 13.
They were raising her two children, aged 13 and 8, as well as her stepdaughter.
“We were so happy together. I am putting on a brave face for the children because this is a difficult time for them.”
Govender said she was now seeking answers.
“I will never be able to walk again. No investigations have been done and I want answers. I support my children and this injury is going to be a challenge for me.”
She said taxis needed to be checked properly before they were put on the roads.
“People have no choice but to use public transport.”
The chairwoman of the Glenhills Taxi Association, Cheryl Moodley, said they were aware of the incident and awaiting the results of the police investigation.
“I know this is a hard time for the affected passengers and I sympathise with them and their families. We are waiting for the police who are investigating to tell us the cause of the accident.”
Moodley said vehicles were checked regularly to ensure they were roadworthy.
“Once we have our report, we will visit the passengers who were affected.”
Police spokesman LieutenantThulani Zwane said investigations were under way to determine the cause of the accident and no arrests had been made.