Nine KZN Church Members Laid to Rest After Horrific Accident

Families of nine members of Umkhumbi Wesethembiso Church in Zion who died in a horrific accident buried their loved ones after a dignified service held at Silethukukhanya High School in Ward 03, Umtubatuba Local Municipality. MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said that they have reached the final stage of mourning as the deceased who died along the N2 in Empangeni on Mother’s Day are laid to rest.

Duma expressed his satisfaction with the work done by the team of senior managers that his department assigned to be with the families from day one, stating that they are happy with the support extended to all affected families and the preparations for the funeral.

In particular, the MEC alerted the media about the Mkhwanazi family, who are one of the victims, saying that the household is child-headed following the death of Winnie Nobuhle Mkhwanazi (52) on Mother’s Day. “The children are now orphans with no source of income. To complicate matters, the children are living in abject poverty and in a dilapidated mud house. Tomorrow, we will announce interventions by the Department of Human Settlements,” he said.

Furthermore, Duma added that they will be communicating with traffic officers who witnessed the decapitated bodies to fast-track professional counseling so they can manage mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional distress. Duma shared insight into the emotional distress that traffic officers go through after being exposed to horrific collision scenes, citing that according to studies, officers are likely to be involved in substance abuse, femicide, and gender-based violence due to stress caused by what they are exposed to. Duma added that they value traffic officers and that is why they want to take care of their well-being and their families.