Memorial service for four children killed in horrific taxi crash

18 January 2017 - 17:59 By Nathi Olifant
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Six people have been killed and several injured after a bus collided with a minibus taxi in Ntuzuma‚ north of Durban on Wednesday morning.
Six people have been killed and several injured after a bus collided with a minibus taxi in Ntuzuma‚ north of Durban on Wednesday morning.
Image: Supplied

Four families will be united in their grief during a memorial service on Thursday for the victims of a horrific taxi accident in Durban.

Ntobeko Ngidi‚ 16‚ Thabisile Myeni‚ 16‚ Sibusiso Sibiya 16‚ S’celo Khumalo 13‚ died last Wednesday morning when the taxi in which they were travelling to school‚ together with 17 other children‚ collided with a bus on Ingcebo Road in Ntuzuma F section outside Durban.

  • READ MORE: Four school children killed as bus and taxi crashThe school year started tragically in Durban where four school children were killed and 18 others injured when a bus and taxi collided at Ntuzuma‚ near KwaMashu‚ early on Tuesday.

A memorial service‚ facilitated by provincial departments‚ for the children will be held at the KwaMashu Christian Centre on Thursday. Three of the children will be buried on Saturday at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu and the fourth will be buried on Sunday.

It has been alleged that the driver of the taxi was flagged down by taxi association marshals moments before the accident but that he failed to stop.

  • READ MORE: Killer taxi 'didn't stop for check'Moments before four children were killed on their way to school the taxi they were in allegedly defied rank marshals by refusing to stop for a safety check. 

Police spokeswoman Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said on Wednesday that the driver made a brief appearance at the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He is facing four charges of culpable homicide.

He is due back in court on February 1.

For the family of Ntobeko Ngidi‚ the loss is hard to process.

“Ntobeko was a good and bright boy who was loved by all family members and neighbours‚” said his aunt Landiwe Mthembu.

She said the family was devastated when they learned of his death‚ hours after the accident.

“I received a call from his mother breaking the tragic news. What pained us is that the accident occurred in the morning and we only learnt about it in the afternoon. I cannot describe the pain the family is going through right now‚” she said.

  • Impromptu prayer service held at scene of crash that killed 4 school childrenShards of glasses‚ school bags‚ newly covered books‚ wheel brake shoes‚ blood and accident debris on the corner of Ngcebo and Mbondwe roads of F Section in Ntuzuma painted a stark picture of the tragic start to the school year for four pupils and their families on Wednesday. 

One of Ngidi’s teachers‚ Nosipho Dlamini‚ described the Sivananda Technical School Grade 11 pupil as a promising boy with a bright future.

“He was well grounded‚” she said.

Nonjabulo Mfeka and Bongeka Mazibuko were Ngidi’s neighbours in Ntuzuma G Section and schoolmates and they said he was a humble boy who stayed away from trouble.

“He was different from the rest and was always respectful of adults in the neighbourhood and at home‚” said Mfeka.

“His school work was always top-notch and he was a hardworking person‚” added Mazibuko.

TMG Digital reported last week that most of the school children who were involved in a horrific crash were so traumatised that they were unable to make statements about the accident.

- TMG Digital/The Times

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