More than 20 people have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal roads since the beginning of the Easter weekend. In the latest incident, seven people were killed including four pedestrians and a driver of a bakkie in Bulwer Road at KwaGezubuso, outside Pietermaritzburg.
It is alleged that 12 pedestrians were walking along the road when they were knocked down by a bakkie.
The deceased were allegedly coming from a cultural function in the area. Pieces of the wreckage were scattered all over the village road at KwaShange in Pietermaritzburg.
Witnesses claim that a drunken driver was travelling at high speed when he veered off the road crashing on victims.
It is reported that many of the victims were coming from a cultural event in the area when the incident occurred.
Two friends, 35-year-old Sifiso Ndlovu and 26-year-old Nkanyiso Mncwabe, were almost home when they were knocked over. Their families are still shocked and deeply traumatized.
Local car wash owner Mazwi Dlamini says they are still shocked by the incident. Dlamini says two of the seven deceased were his employees.
“The two guys were in fact permanent employees at my car wash. Worse I spent the rest of the day with them unknowingly that after few hours they would be dead. It is disturbing to even imagine what had transpired. It is painful indeed and we have lost words, I would like to send my word of condolences to all their families.”
KwaZulu-Natal Police are investigating six counts of culpable homicide and one count of murder after the crash on Edendale Road at Kwashange in Pietermaritzburg.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mxolisi Kaunda is expected to visit the affected families.
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