adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
FIFTEEN members of the Johane Masowe WeChishanu apostolic sect were killed when a truck they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a bus along the R510 highway in Rustenburg, South Africa. North West Public Safety Department spokesperson, Mr Simon Mmope, said the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon between Northern and Rustenburg.
The victims, 10 men, two women and three children aged eight and 12, died on the spot.
They were coming from a church service.
The truck was travelling towards Johannesburg with 15 people on board.
“According to information that we received from traffic authorities, the driver of the truck encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic while trying to overtake another vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision with a bus and all the people in the truck died on the spot,” said Mr Mmope.
The bodies were taken to Rustenburg Provincial Hospital mortuary.
Mr Mmope said several passengers from the bus were also injured. He said the injured were taken to Rustenburg Provincial Hospital.
In a telephone interview from Johannesburg yesterday, Zimbabwe’s Consular General to South Africa, Mr Godfrey Magwenzi, said the victims had since been positively identified by their relatives.
Mr Magwenzi said they have since approached the South African government to assist the relatives in repatriating the bodies through that country’s Road Accident Fund.
“We have positively identified the 15 victims with the assistance of their relatives. We also approached the South African government and it has offered to assist in repatriating the bodies,” he said.
Mr Magwenzi expressed condolences to the relatives of the 15.
“On behalf of the Zimbabwean Consulate, I would want to express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families following the untimely death of their loved ones who perished in a road traffic accident.
“We also would like to take this opportunity to urge motorists to exercise caution and ensure the safety of the passengers. We have noted that most of these accidents are avoidable if we adhere to the traffic rules and regulations. Indeed it is worrying to continue losing lives due to unnecessary road accidents,” he said.
The bodies are expected to arrive in the country through Beitbridge Border Post this morning.
The accident comes barely a month after 13 Zimbabweans were killed in another similar accident that occurred between Musina and Makhado in Limpopo Province in the neighbouring country.
Johane Masowe WeChishanu international spokesperson, Mr Edward Manyara, said the worshippers were all based in South Africa and were travelling from a church gathering in Ndabezitha in KwaZulu-Natal in their Mitsubishi Colt when the fatal accident occurred.
“We are working on repatriating the bodies of our members back home and we are expecting all the bodies to arrive tomorrow (today) morning,” he said.
Mr Manyara said relatives of the deceased have since been informed.
He identified the deceased as Andrew Tonderai Dzvairo and his wife Mildred Chimba from Murehwa, Barbsy Marufu from Hwedza, Andrew Mahachi, Stanely Zvichapera and Brian Muzhingi all from Harare, Lucky Takaedza from Mt Darwin, Blessing Zhaware, Blessing Chimbi both from Marange in Mutare, Paida Chiurirayi and relatives Mercia Chiyangwa, Penia Chiyangwa, Pride Chiyangwa from Guruve, Lawrence Mureya from Zvishavane and Evias Mudzamiri from Musana communal lands.
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