Africa-Press – Eswatini. The death toll in the fatal road accident along the Yith’abantu Highway that happened on Thursday has risen to four. This is after it was confirmed yesterday that another minor has also passed away, joining the three that were certified dead soon after the spine-chilling accident. It was reported that three people died, while over 14 were severely injured, in the accident that involved a Toyota Quantum and a Toyota Fortuner, driven by a woman with two minors.
One of the deceased was the driver of the Toyota Quantum, who died on the spot along with a male passenger. The second minor, who was also said to be travelling in the Toyota Fortuner, passed away while being rushed for treatment at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzini. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the death of the second minor. “It has been reported to us that a second child who was travelling in the Toyota Fortuner has also passed away. Police are continuing with their investigations on this accident,” Mnguni said briefly. Independent investigations revealed that the woman, who was driving the Toyota Fortuner, is the mother of the two deceased minors. This was confirmed by her distraught husband in a brief interview at RFM yesterday afternoon.
Devastated
“We are devastated as a family because my two children, who were travelling with their mother, have both passed away. The other died on the spot while the second one passed away while being taken for treatment. We are getting many theories of what caused the accident and at this point, we will leave everything in God’s hands,” the clearly emotional father of the deceased minors said. The mother of the two deceased minors, who is currently undergoing treatment at RFM after suffering serious internal injuries, could not recall vividly what caused the accident in a brief interview with the Eswatini News on her hospital bed. “I cannot recall what really happened and all I remember is finding my child, who was seated behind me thrown on my lap after the accident. My child was only four years old and we were from home in Nhlangano going to Manzini when this happened,” she briefly said.
A doctor at RFM, who asked not to be named, also confirmed the death of the second minor, admitting that it was devastating news for not just the family, but the hospital staff, especially in the emergency room where the victims of the accident received treatment. “Only God knows why the lives of the two children were taken in such a brutal manner. It is still a wonder how their mother managed to survive this horrific accident, God is great indeed. We pray that the family is comforted during this sad moment,” the doctor, who also attended to the victims, said.
Information gathered is that some of the patients were treated before being discharged on the same day, while others were transferred to the Mbabane Government Hospital for further treatment. One of the survivors of the accident interviewed at the hospital ward thanked God for being alive.
“I was sitting just behind the driver and what I saw was a speeding white van going past us and seconds later, I was writhing in pain. I was surprised that the driver of the speeding car did not even have the decency to stop after causing the accident. I just pray that he is caught to face justice for his actions because people lost their lives due to his reckless driving. It is very sad to hear that a minor was killed in the accident,” he said.
Treatment
Relatives and friends of the victims crowded the corridors of the RFM hospital to check on their loved ones, who were undergoing treatment.
The Yith’abantu Highway is notorious for fatal accidents in the past and worth noting is that Thursday’s horrific crash happened exactly a day after a Toyota Quantum was hit by a bus and overturned near the newly-constructed Manzini Golf Course Interchange, which is along the Manzini/Mbhadlane Highway. Interviewed by our sister publication, Times of Eswatini, Kombi Association member Ambrose Dlamini said it was a great concern that fatal accidents were now rapid and common on the roads.
“I really do not know what has befallen us. Although we do not have any official reports on what the cause of the accidents may have been, it is quite shocking and scary at the same time, that our workers are involved in these accidents,” he said, before cautioning the public transport workers to exercise caution when driving on the roads. He said the accidents were unfortunate as they were happening at a time when customers were quite few.
Statistics show that not a year passes before lives are lost through accidents along the Yith’abantu Highway. In May, 2020, 11 police officers based at Ngonini under the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) were killed after their vehicle collided with a truck, taking their lives on the spot, while only four managed to survive. This was followed by the death of a former University of Eswatini Law student Thabani Nkomonye after he allegedly lost control of his car while in an alleged speed chase with law enforcers in May 8, 2021. His death subsequently sparked off political unrests in the country.
Disturbed
On July 20, 1999, five people were killed and 68 others injured when a fully-loaded bus heading for Mbabane from Nhlangano overturned along the Yith’abantu Highway. It was reported that the bus driver was disturbed by a speeding truck, which was said to be moving in the opposite direction, but on the wrong lane. The latest accident came at a time when there have been calls for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to upgrade the Yith’abantu Highway. Some of these calls have come even from Members of Parliament and concerned road users. Public Works Minister Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe was contacted last night and he conceded that the accidents were a big concern. “I have been out of the country and not privy to what has been happening on the road but I must say that the accidents are a big concern. Please give me more time to gather my facts on this issue before I can give a proper statement on this issue of accidents,” the minister briefly said.
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