1 KILLED, 7 SURVIVE AS QUANTUM HITS TREE, OVERTURNS

MAKHEWU – An elderly woman of Mvembili in northern Hhohho died on the spot yesterday morning in an accident that involved a Toyota Quantum.

Seven survived the accident that happened near the Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital (GSCH) in Siteki. Betty Ginindza, who was in her 60s, died when the driver of the Maphungwane-bound kombi lost control at a corner while descending the mountain near the hospital and hit a tree before it overturned. The elderly woman was from a funeral when she met her death. At the hospital, three men and two women were admitted and taken to the theatre for an X-ray examination. Two of the passengers were treated and discharged. The patients sustained deep cuts and bruises on their bodies while others complained about pain.

Eyewitness

According to an eyewitness, the kombi descended the hill at a high speed and the driver lost control of it when approaching the bend near the hospital and hit a tree. The eyewitness shared that the security officers at both gates of the hospital raised the alarm and the nursing staff rushed to the scene to assist the passengers. “The elderly woman was not responsive and declared dead on the scene while the others were retrieved from the kombi and taken to the hospital,” said the eyewitness. GSCH Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Kiron Koshy stated that it was unfortunate that one died on the scene, five were admitted and two were treated and discharged. The SMO said the proximity of the hospital and prompt response by the health officials to the scene of the accident saved the lives of the other surviving patients and they were able to get help soon. Koshy mentioned that the kombi lost control towards the bend near the hospital and it overturned.

“We did everything possible to save the lives of the others. As an institution, we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased,” he said. One of the survivors, Zweli Dlamini (36) of Ngwane Park in Manzini, sustained injuries on the head and neck, and bruises on his part of his face around the eye and right hand. Zweli claimed that the kombi driver descended the hill at a high speed and failed to control it when it reached the bend, resulting in it overturning. He stated that he was from a funeral at Magwanyana. “I thank God that I survived and my serious injury is the deep cut wound on my head and eye. The others also sustained serious injuries on their bodies,” he said.

Abdomen

Another survivor, Sithembiso Dlamini, was stitched on his abdomen area. His mother, Chazile Ndwandwe, said she received a call that her son was admitted to the hospital and had to rush to the health institution to check on him. She stated that she was still traumatised as her son was still not able to talk after being operated on the theatre. “I pray that God saves my son as he was going to work when the accident happened,” she said. The late Ginindza’s son, Themba Msibi, said he was still shocked and traumatised about the death of his mother. Msibi stated that he received a call from a police officer, who was not open when relaying the sad news to him. He mentioned that the police officer only called and informed him that there had been an accident, but  did not reveal that his mother had died.

“I only got to know about my mother’s death when I contacted my relatives. We are still shocked as a family, because she left in good health before meeting her death,” he said.
Lugongolweni Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Souza has passed condolences to the Ginindza family. The MP said it was unfortunate that lives continue to be lost as a result of traffic accidents. Souza urged public transport operators to make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy to avoid such accidents. “I was also shocked to learn that a life has been lost near Good Shepherd (Catholic Hospital). We hope government will erect speed humps to control speeding when descending the hill,” he said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said an elderly woman died on the scene. Vilakati stated that five were admitted while two were treated and discharged.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: