“People were screaming and then the bus plunged down the embankment and everything was a thick mist belt. I don’t even know how to explain it. Everything became dark and there was no longer commotion or screaming, just total darkness and dead silence.”
That was the chilling description by survivor Sikelelo Khumalo of the moment the bus, carrying about 60 Twelve Apostles Church in Trinity congregants from Richards Bay to Shakaskraal, veered down an embankment after it burst a tyre on Sunday.
Khumalo was speaking at a memorial service at the Shayamoya sports ground in Shakaskraal on Thursday to honour eight people who died in the accident on the N2 between Mandeni and KwaDukuza.
Those who lost their lives include Khumalo's nephew Thabani Mchunu, 31, Sindisiwe Mhlongo, 31, Lungile Gumede, Sibusiso Mangala, Jabulisiwe Mlambo, Sihle Gumede, 6, Nomanyaka Mvela, 49, and Inama Zikhali, 13.
Khumalo said when he opened his eyes he discovered he had been ejected and the mangled bus was lying next to him.
“When I could move I saw my nephew. The bus was on top of him. There was another church member Dube who tried to help me get Thabani out, but the bus was not moving. Our efforts were no match for the size of the bus,” said Khumalo.
He said sadly his nephew succumbed to his injuries.
“I don’t know how I managed to survive. But I guess it was through God’s grace. Thabani was young and we had hopes for him for the future,” said Khumalo.
He said had the bus driver veered onto oncoming traffic they would have hit the barrier and perhaps more people would have survived.
“I cannot share further details about the horror I witnessed because it is too distressing. I tried helping other people, but I realised that I too needed assistance as I was injured. I thank God,” said Khumalo.
The driver was under police guard at the hospital on Sunday.
According to the provincial transport department, 14 passengers were treated at the General Gizenga Mpanza Hospital and four were discharged from Sundumbili Clinic.
Five women, including a pregnant woman and three children, are still in hospital.
Mbekeni Gumede, whose sister Lungile died in the accident, said it was not easy to come to terms with the loss.
“She was the only sister we had. She was starting to plan her life as she was a junior teacher who had only two years in her job,” said Gumede.
Gumede was also the mother of four-year-old twins.
He described how he arrived at the accident scene and was told about attempts to save his sister's life, but she died as she was being pulled to safety from the bottom of the embankment.
“We are broken. My mother and her grandchildren need to be comforted,” said Gumede.
Deputy transport minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the churches and religious organisations have an important role to play in ensuring the safety of all road users.
“We should ensure the buses we use to go to church services and other events are roadworthy to carry passengers. We should do it in collaboration with the transport department and the taxi industry,” said Hlengwa.
Hlengwa said he had received a preliminary report into the accident but would only release it when it is finalised.
“We are doing this so that the families can be guided to consult with the Road Accident Fund,” said Hlengwa.
He said they have convened meetings with the Road Traffic Management Corporation to bolster road safety as the country builds up to a busy Easter holiday period when traffic volumes are set to increase.
He said in December there were more than 1,234 accidents that left 1,502 dead in 42 days.
He said the UN had set a target of decreasing road fatalities by 50%.
“We need to work together to achieve that,” said Hlengwa.
Jabulani Mdletshe, the church's secretary for the Zululand region, said the victims came from Jozini, Mbazwana and Mbonambi.
“It's difficult to offer them comfort. We have words of comfort, but we do understand how it’s sometimes difficult to accept the words of condolences as families come to terms with their loss. We trust God who is a maker of things will give them strength,” he said.
He said families would be counselled during the grieving process and the church plans to help with the burials.
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