Times Of Swaziland: KOMBI CRASH DEATH TOLL NOW 10, NINE IDENTIFIED

KOMBI CRASH DEATH TOLL NOW 10, NINE IDENTIFIED
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BY SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO AND SIBUSISOSHANGE on 06/05/2021 08:14:00


MBABANE – The death toll of the passengers of the kombi which was involved in
a horror crash at Gobholo on Tuesday afternoon has risen to 10.
The accident is believed to have been caused by the kombi’s faulty brakes and
left residents of Gobholo reeling from shock. Eyewitnesses said the kombi
plunged down a 60-metre cliff, landing in the Gobholo River. The latest death
toll was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer
Superintendent Phindile Vilakati. The deceased have been identified as Xondile
Lukhele (Sihlongonyane) (30), Somandla Maseko (27), Siphiwe Shabangu (53), Linda
Mabuza (18), Phindile Tsela (50), Lucy Magagula, Bhekumuzi Mdluli (29), Mfanzile
Magagula and Gcebile Dlamini, who died while undergoing treatment at the Mbabane
Government Hospital. Dlamini died yesterday morning and her next of kin have not
been identified yet. One of the victims has still not been identified.
Survived
Some of the passengers who survived the accident were identified as Mthobisi
Mavuso (14) of Gobholo, Joseph Dlamini (Kasiko), Thandeka Mabuza (24) from
Ntsintsa and Thulani Dlamini (33) from Sitseni. Three of survivors sustained
serious injuries and are currently recuperating at the Mbabane Government
Hospital, while Thulani was treated and discharged on the same day following the
accident. In an interview with some of the survivors, they mentioned that it was
their first time to see the kombi in the area. They stated that the kombi showed
signs of being faulty, making them uncomfortable to board it, although they
continued with the ride.
Abraham Dabulabhande Mdluli who is a father to the deceased driver, Bhekumuzi,
said although his son’s demise was shocking, he had been followed by
misfortunes in the past.
Brake
Mdluli said his son, a few years ago, survived an accident along the Dlangeni
Road. According to Mdluli, his son had been requested by some Chritians to take
them to a certain church when the vehicle experienced a brake failure, landing
in a huge donga. He said the accident was not severe and he escaped unscathed
with the Christians. He, however, fractured his leg such that doctors had to
insert certain metals in it. Following the accident, Mdluli said his son left to
work in South Africa, where he drove tractors. Mdluli passed his condolences to
the relatives of the deceased passengers, adding that he was at pains that his
son was the alleged cause of all the deaths. “If only he died alone and not
with the passengers who had entrusted their lives to him,” he said.