Times Of Swaziland: IMBALI KILLED IN TRUCK ACCIDENT

IMBALI KILLED IN TRUCK ACCIDENT
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BY JABULISA DLAMINI AND EUGENE DUBE on 29/08/2015 06:42:00


MANZINI - Over 50 parents from different parts of the country last night flocked
the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital to identify bodies of their children,
members of the Imbali regiment, who were involved in a horrific accident near
the traffic circle, in Matsapha.
The tragic accident, which happened along the MR3 Highway, Mahhala, involved two
trucks, which were ferrying maidens and a sedan. This was around 5:20pm.
The maidens were said to be returning from Phonjwane and Singweni destined for
Ludzidzini Royal Residence for the ongoing national Umhlanga Reed Dance cultural
activity.
According to witnesses, traffic police officers pulled-over a Toyota van along
the highway and that was when the first truck failed to avoid hitting the car as
it smashed into the Toyota’s rear. This caused the pile up as the second truck
crashed onto the truck which also had the excited maidens on board.
One of the maidens who survived the accident, in an interview with the Swazi
News, confirmed the account of some of the witnesses.
“We were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van
and was crashed from the rear by the other truck which was driving behind
ours,” Siphelele Sigudla (18) said.
One of the hospital authorities, who refused to be named, confirmed that seven
people, six maidens and one Indvuna, were confirmed dead at the Emergency Room
(ER) by medical doctors before being taken to the mortuary.
Police Deputy Officer Information and Communications Inspector Phindile Vilakati
could only confirm the accident which occurred near the traffic circle,
Matsapha.
“I cannot confirm more details on the matter as it still has to be formally
reported to higher authorities. The accident involving maidens did occur and the
police are still busy with investigations, contact the RSP communications desk
tomorrow for more information,” Inspector Vilakati said. Fire and Emergency
Services Mbabane Branch divisional officer, Auto Dlamini who was found at the
scene could confirm that nine maidens had passed on.
This was at the time he was interviewed at about 6:40pm. Dlamini said he was,
however, not in position to say whether this was the final death toll as he
could attend to those they had attended to.
“Information we have gathered so far is that one truck rammed into the other
and both were destined towards Ludzidzini Royal Residence,” said Dlamini.
Meanwhile, the said parents flocked the hospital’s Emergency Room (ER) in a
bid to identify their children, however, they were not able to as they were
ordered to wait outside the ER, which was full of injured maidens and those who
had been already certified dead by medical doctors. When Swazi News reporters
arrived at the hospital, the staff, medical doctors, the hospital’s
administration, members of the Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) were running up and
down the corridors, trying to assist injured maidens from ambulances and police
vehicles to the ER.