DA mayor’s birthday ends in tears as after-curfew crash leaves two killed

His birthday started off with a prayer of thanks and a wish to win the upcoming local government elections.

But about 30 minutes before his 44th birthday was over on Saturday, Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Nqaba Bhanga was involved in a car accident that killed two people.

A woman identified as Nonzwakazi Maho, 44, and a man whose name has not been released who were driving in a grey Audi died at the scene on the R75 near Algoa Park, while Bhanga — who was driving his private vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz — was rushed to Greenacres Hospital.

The police said the accident took place at 11.30pm.

Initially, Bhanga’s spokesperson Leander Kruger said the mayor had sustained minor injuries, but on Sunday afternoon he said Bhanga’s injuries were a lot more serious than they had thought and he had to undergo surgery to treat internal bleeding.

By Sunday night, Kruger said an update on Bhanga’s condition was not yet available.

The police are investigating a case of culpable homicide, though police spokesperson capt Sandra Janse van Rensburg said additional charges could be added at a later stage.

This may include a charge of flouting the disaster management act for driving after the 10pm curfew.

Police were still trying to piece together what happened, saying all leads were being followed up.

Janse van Rensburg said the investigation was at an early stage and police still needed to take a full statement from Bhanga.

Asked if the police had taken blood samples to test Bhanga’s blood-alcohol levels, Janse van Rensburg said: “When police arrived, paramedics were already attending to all the victims from both vehicles.

“The driver of the Mercedes-Benz [Bhanga] is still in hospital and a statement will be taken from him in due course.

“Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact them.”

Kruger refused to answer questions about why Bhanga was driving after the 10pm curfew.

He said the mayor and his office would cooperate with law enforcement.

“We wish to caution against speculation until the investigation is concluded.

“Right now, our focus is on ensuring that the mayor receives the best possible care and supporting his family during this time,” Kruger said.

On Sunday morning, debris from the crash was still visible at the accident scene.  A broken traffic light was on its side.

A resident from Boekenhout Road in Algoa Park, who lives near the accident scene, said she was watching TV when she heard a loud bang.

“I rushed outside and I saw what looked like a dark car there, but I couldn’t make out the other one as it was completely totalled and there were sparks.

“By the time I decided to go it was about 12.45am.

“There were two people still trapped inside the car but they passed away.

“The other driver was taken away by an ambulance,” the woman, who declined to be named, said.

Another resident from St Leonards Road said he heard sirens when he was in bed but did not go to check.

“We live so close to the main road and you hear sirens here all the time. Accidents happen at that intersection all the time.”

Bhanga was in a jovial mood on Saturday as he celebrated his birthday.

On his social media accounts, he posted: “It’s my BIRTHDAY. I woke up with a prayer to thank God for everything that I have achieved, for the strength to continue leading Nelson Mandela Bay residents with humility and the knowledge to lead them with prosperity [sic].

“My birthday wish is to WIN this election. Ndilindile I cake (I’m waiting for cake).”

Bhanga’s week started off with him being announced as the DA’s mayoral candidate for the municipal elections and kicking off his campaign around the city.

His political opponents have already started gunning for him, with Lawrence Troon of the GOOD party releasing a statement questioning why Bhanga was driving around after the 10pm curfew.

“A few years ago, a young woman ... was killed in a car crash after he’d apparently sent his driver to fetch her, and last night two people died in a crash involving the mayor (who was said to be driving his own vehicle).

“After the death in the [2017] crash, Bhanga’s political party, the DA, said it would investigate the matter — but no outcome of such an investigation, if one took place, was ever made public.

“Bhanga is not just the sitting mayor but was announced this week as the DA’s candidate to return to the position after local government elections. 

“With the election around the corner, it’s a good time for the people of Nelson Mandela Bay to show this unguided missile the door,” Troon said.

In October 2017, when he headed the human settlements department, Bhanga’s bodyguard Kgothatso Mosehla was involved in a crash that killed two people in the other vehicle at the corner of Spondo and Uitenhage roads in Zwide — not too far from the site of this weekend’s crash.

In November 2020, The Herald newspaper revealed that a confidential municipal security report compiled by safety and security director Arlin Robile found that Bhanga had misused a municipal vehicle and recommended he be disciplined for instructing his former bodyguard to use a municipal vehicle to fetch his girlfriend.

At the time, Bhanga said the probe was a political ploy, while then DA municipal public accounts committee spokesperson Morne Steyn said he was not aware of any internal probe by the DA into the matter.

“I don’t believe there would be any [investigations] because there hasn’t been any objective or concrete evidence of any wrongdoing,” he said at the time.

There have not been any developments since then.

ANC regional spokesperson JP Pretorius encouraged all citizens to adhere to Covid-19 regulations and the curfew imposed.

“We call upon the law enforcement agencies to take the necessary measures to establish the circumstances around the fatal and unfortunate road accident and leave no stone unturned,” Pretorius said.

Deputy mayor and UDM mayoral candidate Luxolo Namette wrote: “I want to wish the executive mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay a speedy recovery after he sustained minor injuries in a fatal accident.

“The executive mayor is recovering well in hospital. I urge we give him and [his] family time and space during this trying time.

“Our prayers and thoughts are also with the families who lost their loved ones in that accident.”