MFELAFUTSI – Two women died in a fatal head-on collision involving a VW Golf sedan and a passenger minibus on the MR3 freeway between Mpaka and Malindza.
The accident occurred at about 11:15 am yesterday at Mfelafutsi, an area that has recently recorded several serious road accidents. The deceased were sisters, one of whom was a teacher. Both women were travelling in the VW sedan, which was en route from Manzini to Siteki.
The 22-seater minibus, belonging to Imphala Tours Transport, was travelling from Simunye to Manzini and was ferrying passengers at the time of the collision. Firefighters and emergency personnel were called to the scene where the two women were trapped inside the sedan and had to be extracted using rescue equipment. Sadly, they were confirmed lifeless upon removal.
Two empty alcohol bottles and one unopened bottle were observed on the back seat of the VW sedan at the scene.
When this publication arrived at the accident site, police officers and emergency rescue teams were still attending to injured passengers and securing the scene.
A traffic police officer Constable Nkhosinathi Zwane said police received a report shortly before noon about an accident involving a sedan and a minibus on the MR3.
“We then rushed and we found that indeed it happened,” he said.
Constable Zwane added that preliminary police observations indicate that the driver of the VW sedan left her lane and collided head-on with the minibus, which was travelling in its correct lane.
“This is what the bus driver said happened again,” he stated.
He said investigations were still ongoing and more details would be shared in due course but confirmed that the accident was fatal.
“What I can say at this stage is that it is a fatal accident,” he said.
Constable Zwane further confirmed that the VW sedan was travelling from Manzini towards Siteki, while the minibus was travelling from Simunye to Manzini.
“They had to pass by each other, however an accident occurred,” he said.
An eyewitness who was walking along the side of the road at the time of the accident said the VW sedan was driving on both lanes while travelling from Manzini towards Mpaka.
“It looked like the VW sedan was overtaking, however there was no car on its lane,” the eyewitness said.
The eyewitness added that the collision occurred on the minibus’s lane, adding that what surprised him is that the VW sedan’s lane was empty without any car, however it kept moving on the wrong lane.
When asked whether the minibus driver attempted to alert the sedan driver, the eyewitness said accidents of that nature happen within seconds.
“It happened so quick. I only heard the loud collision noise,” the eyewitness said.
Another eyewitness who works at a car wash in the area said he had seen the sedan earlier and spoke briefly to the female driver.
“She mentioned that she was in a hurry to attend a funeral around Manzini,” he said, adding that she had told him she had missed the memorial service.
The eyewitness further speculated that the driver might have been sleepy, based on reports from other people who observed the vehicle moving between lanes.
A female passenger who was seated two rows behind the minibus driver said she did not see what happened.
“It happened so fast, I just heard a loud noise,” she said.
Police Deputy Chief Information and Communications Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni, confirmed the accident.
She said the two women travelling in the VW sedan lost their lives, while two minibus passengers were admitted to hospital, 12 were treated and discharged and four were not injured.
Former Bucopho blames ‘Mfelafutsi’ name for recurring fatal accidents
MFELAFUTSI – A former Malindza Bucopho has linked the name Mfelafutsi to the recurring fatal accidents that occur along the MR3 in the area.
Seven-days Tsabedze also a community police leader, confirmed that one of the deceased women in the recent MR3 accident was a teacher. He said the officer and the driver of the VW sedan were sisters and residents of the Malindza area.
“I know them, they are residents in the area,” he said.
Tsabedze revealed that the driver of the sedan had hosted a party at her home a few days before the accident.
Speaking during an interview with this reporter, Tsabedze said the area’s name could be contributing to the frequent and often horrific accidents recorded at the same spot.
“I can say the name is part of the problem,” he said.
Tsabedze stated that many fatal accidents had occurred in the area over the years.
He explained that the name Mfelafutsi dates back many years and was inherited from earlier generations.
“We found our elders calling the place like that,” he said. He added that the name originated from an elderly man who once lived in the area.
Tsabedze said that, as part of the community leadership in the past, discussions had been held about changing the name, but no final decision had been reached.
However, he insisted that the name should be changed due to the continued loss of lives.
“It needs to change because of the horrible accidents that claim people’s lives,” he said.
Tsabedze recalled that a few years ago, a family of three died at the same spot.
He further shared that some residents believe there is a bad spirit in the area that requires prayers and spiritual intervention.
“It needs to be prayed for properly,” he said.
Tsabedze added that there is a belief among some community members that the spirit demands blood.
“When it needs blood, horrible accidents happen,” he said.
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