Celebration plans turn to tragedy
Young student killed in hit-and-run horror after late night of studying
INSTEAD of preparing for a Rhodes University student’s birthday, a Port Elizabeth family are planning her funeral after a hit-and-run accident in Grahamstown at the weekend. Third-year accounting student Khanya Ndimba, 20, from Fernglen in Port Elizabeth, whose birthday would have been in eight days’ time, was killed while walking with two friends in New Street, Grahamstown, at about 4am on Saturday.
A driver handed himself over to police hours after the accident.
Family and fellow students are devastated by the death of Ndimba, who matriculated from Alexander Road High School in Newton Park in 2012.
She was described as a dedicated student with a bright future who was liked by all who knew her.
Ndimba’s older brother, Mvome, 22, said yesterday: “Her goal was to be a chartered accountant and now it is gone.
“The whole family is in shock and my parents are taking it very hard. She is the youngest of three children.”
Mvome said his sister was walking to the petrol station shop with two friends to buy food after having studied all night when the accident happened.
“According to witnesses, a car stopped in the road to drop someone off when another vehicle came screaming past and hit right into her,” he said.
“We are all shattered.
“She [Mdimba] comes home every holiday and was meant to be home for her birthday as well.
“She went through such a lot in her short life and she never let things get to her,” he said.
“As a family, we have come together and are supporting each other.”
Mvome said the family felt strongly that the driver should face the law.
“What he did was reckless and stupid. We do blame him but we also forgive him.”
Mvome said this was because there was little sense in two lives being taken away by the terrible tragedy.
According to police, the red Suzuki car which hit and killed Ndimba stopped a few metres down the road and both the driver and a passenger allegedly fled on foot.
Later on Saturday, the driver, who is believed also to be a student at the university, had still not been arrested despite having handed himself over at the Grahamstown police station.
Police spokesman Captain Mali Govender said witnesses to the accident said the vehicle was speeding when the collision occurred.
“The investigation is still under way but I can confirm that, on Saturday morning, someone claiming to be the driver did come to the police station accompanied by a parent.
“Arrangements were made through the investigating officer to meet on Monday, after preparing a statement with their attorney,” Govender said. The Suzuki in-
volved in the accident had been confiscated and towed to the police pound where it was being examined for evidence.
Warden Lisl Griffioen, who is in charge of students at New House residence where Ndimba stayed, said everyone was gutted by her death.
“She was such a bright, clever and talented woman, whose goal was to succeed.
“When you walked into her room, all you saw was notes and summaries stuck to the walls,” Griffioen said. “Everyone liked and loved her – she was just one of those people who get on with everyone.”
Griffioen also sent out an e-mail to students of New House on Saturday stating her sympathy and condolences.
Rhodes University student affairs director Colleen Vassiliou said yesterday: “We are all shocked and devastated.
“The death is really being felt by her lecturers, fellow students and management.
“She was such a bright young lady with a promising future in the accounting field.
“Just the fact that she was studying in the early hours of the morning at the library shows that she was a very hard worker and motivated.”
Vassiliou said Ndimba’s friends were receiving grief counselling.
She said the university wanted to allow the criminal process to run its course before discussing any internal disciplinary action. – Additional reporting by Adrienne Carlisle