Three children die after being struck by car in Nquthu on eve of elections

Tragedy struck the northern KwaZulu-Natal area of Nquthu on Tuesday afternoon, the eve of the much-awaited municipal by-elections when three school children died after being knocked by a car.

The children‚ Ayanda Mazibuko‚ 9‚ Zamafuze Ngcobo‚ 17‚ and their cousin Andiswa Buthelezi‚ were standing on the side of the road in Ward 13 of Nquthu Municipality when the accident happened.

ANC MPL and Nquthu elections spokeswoman Nomagugu Simelani-Zulu said the ANC was shocked and dismayed by the “passing of the three children who were struck by a car in Nquthu on Tuesday afternoon”.

• Special votes open for Nquthu by-elections in KZNAs the countdown edges closer to by-elections in Nquthu in northern KwaZulu-Natal‚ the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed that all 116 voting stations in the municipality were opened for special votes on Tuesday‚ ahead of the by-elections on Wednesday.

“Although the details regarding the death of the children are still sketchy‚ it appears that the vehicle veered off the road and hit them while they were on their way to fetch water‚” she said.

Speaking after visiting the family on Tuesday afternoon‚ the ANC provincial chairperson‚ Sihle Zikalala‚ said: “We are deeply disturbed and shocked by the passing of the children. What saddens us most is the fact that the children died while they were going to fetch water which is a few kilometres from their home.”

• Zuma plays ancestors card in struggle for NquthuPresident Jacob Zuma delivered the strongest message yet to Nquthu voters as the final push for control of the northern KwaZulu-Natal council shifted into high gear ahead of Wednesday's polls.

Using the incident to advance his party’s election pledge Zikalala said that his ANC government will ensure that the people of Nquthu receive “clean potable water right on their doorsteps”.

ANC Women’s League President‚ Bathabile Dlamini‚ was also among ANC leaders who visited the family on Tuesday to convey their condolences to the family‚ community‚ and neighbours of the deceased.

Nquthu will be going to the polls on Wednesday morning in an attempt to reconstitute the dissolved council.

- TMG Digital/TimesLIVE