Mnisi a hero at scene of taxi crash
Victims’ families praise councillor
Verena ward 11 councillor Timothy Mnisi was among the first people to arrive at the tragic scene where 20 people, including 18 pupils, died along the R25 in Mpumalanga.
At the weekend, as 16 of the pupils and a general worker who perished on that day were buried, Mnisi was hailed as a hero by the bereaved families.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Phaswana Madihlaba said Mnisi, 57, had done a great job at the accident scene and in the days that followed by being there for the families.
“He was first to arrive at the scene. When an ambulance takes long to arrive [at an emergency scene], he is always there.
“Of the seven children who survived the accident, he was able to bandage and assess them and when the ambulance people arrived, he was able to tell them what [medical attention] they needed. Thank you,” Madihlaba said to applause.
Yesterday, Mnisi, who was born in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, revealed he was a qualified paramedic and firefighter.
Ambulances and fire engines responding to emergencies in Verena are from Miliva, about 15km away from the area where the accident occurred.
“I’ve seen ... that our people are far from emergency services. So, I am a resident paramedic,” Mnisi said.
Having acquired a basic qualification in the Vaal in 1987, he also qualified as an advanced paramedic and firefighter from the Sandton Fire Department in 1999.
On April 21, Mnisi and a police officer were alerted to the crash by a motorist.
“I went home, took my car and rushed to the scene. Just as I arrived, the taxi caught fire. It was lying on its side,” the married father of five said. “There were children who were able to climb up and I removed two of them through the windows.
“There were screams coming from the taxi. They were screams in flames. They were dying,” he said.
Mnisi said some motorists stopped and brought their fire extinguishers but they were too small. “They couldn’t stop the fire. It was a huge flame.
“I screamed and screamed. I was looking at the children burning inside the taxi.
“I managed the scene until the last body was recovered from the taxi hours later.
“There was a nurse from North West who was passing by and she stopped and we worked together. I also worked well with Lucky Mbonani who is a firefighter,” he said.
Mnisi took up a position as councillor in 2011, and has attended to 57 accidents.
“This was the most horrific. I am disturbed. I try and counsel myself and be brave. I am encouraged to do more and more for my community.
“I am a paramedic and firefighter. I love the profession and will never stop hence I renew my qualifications every year as required.”