MBABANE – Some victims of the horrific accident, which occurred at the Oshoek Border Gate are still shocked at how they survived.
Speaking from their hospital beds yesterday, the victims, who are emaSwati, shared that they were on their way to Eswatini when the accident happened. However, not all of them recalled what happened as they recovered their consciousness in the hospital after all had happened. Veronicah Khumalo (32) of Mbikwakhe, in Matsapha, said they were on their way to Eswatini from Johannesburg when they were knocked down by the truck, shortly after their arrival at the border gate.
“It was hardly three minutes after we had alighted from a Toyota Quantum when the accident happened. I cannot recall exactly what happened as everything happened in a twinkle of an eye, while we were refreshing behind the kombi after the long journey,” Khumalo said. She added that they boarded the kombi at Wanderers Taxi Rank. Khumalo, who is currently admitted together with three other females and one male at the Mbabane Government Hospital, shared that she sustained a fractured ankle and injury on the face during the accident. She stated that she was fractured twice in the ankle.
It was reliably gathered that 12 passengers were involved in the accident. However, 10 of them were rushed to the Mbabane Government Hospital, where six were treated and discharged. Four of the victims, who include three females and one male are still admitted. It was gathered that the driver was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
Victims
During the visit at the hospital, it was observed that all the victims sustained broken leg injuries and were being examined pending operations.
One of the victims said she did not know what happened before she found herself in the hospital ward. She was told that she was retrieved under a motor vehicle after she was knocked down by the truck. She sustained injuries on both legs, one of which was fractured.“You were on your phone when the truck knocked and dragged you to the stationary vehicle,” the victim was told by those who also survived the accident.
Another victim, who was treated and discharged shared that she woke up under the Toyota Quantum after the accident. She stated that she was retrieved after she was spotted by another victim. “I saw people rolling on the road with injuries, while their bags were scattered on the road. Thank God we are alive,” she said. However, some of the victims preferred to be identified by their genders as opposed to their names and particulars. They said they were not ready for publicity while recovering from the injuries.
While at the hospital, the owner of the truck, who identified himself as Tsabedze, introduced himself to the victim’s relatives. Tsabedze said he felt duty-bound to engage the families of the victims to see how he could assist under the circumstances.“We have found it important to avail ourselves to you and see how we can assist our government under the circumstances. Life is very important even though we do not have the full version of what really happened as our driver is currently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. We are checking on the victims so that we can assist where we can,” he said before exchanging contact details with the victims’ relatives.When asked for an interview, Tsabedze said he was still collecting information on the victims.
Overturned
During a visit to the border gate, it was gathered that the truck driver lost control of the truck which sped towards the entry point and knocked against the Toyota Quantum and a sprinter, resulting in human injuries. It was also gathered that the Truck overturned and landed on two motor vehicles belonging to the border employees. The cars were said to be beyond repairs.
