‘We Have Cried Until Our Tears Dried’: Mtubatuba Family Devastated After Six Loved Ones Killed in N2 Crash

They have cried all they can and said that “words cannot describe their pain”.

This was how the Mnyango family from Mtubatuba, in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, has been left after losing six loved ones in a car crash on Friday.

The Mnyangos were on their way to visit relatives when their road trip turned tragic after the Corsa they were travelling in collided with a truck on the N2, north of Mtubatuba.

The six family members will be laid to rest on Sunday.

According to family spokesperson Lindelani Gcaleka, the deceased were travelling to Mfekayi, another area in Mtubatuba, to attend a minor family ceremony.

Gcaleka said the accident occurred in the Manandi area, about 20 to 25 kilometres from the family’s home, shortly after 8pm.

The occupants of the vehicle were his elder brother, Vuyani Gcaleka (43), who was driving; his grandmother, Nokuphakama Mnyango (85); his aunt, Nkosingiphile Mnyango (53); her daughter, Senamile Buthelezi (29); Senamile’s son, Lubanzi Buthelezi (5); and Ayanda Mthembu (12), the daughter of Nkosingiphile.

“The funeral will be held on Sunday in observance of Shembe law, as the family are Shembe congregants. The family will finalise funeral arrangements on Thursday,” Lindelani Gcaleka told the Daily News.

Recounting what happened on that fateful night, Gcaleka said his brother’s wife had been travelling a short distance behind the Corsa her husband was driving. Unaware of what had happened, she passed the accident scene without realising that her family members were involved.

A short while later, an aunt who was travelling with her suggested that she contact the family to check whether they had arrived safely at their destination. When they were informed that the family had not yet arrived, they immediately made a U-turn and returned to the scene, where they made the grim discovery.

Gcaleka said the vehicle was beyond repair, and that the side on which the grandmother had been seated bore the brunt of the impact with the truck.

Speaking about the family’s emotional state, he said they were devastated by the tragedy.

“We are deeply hurt. It is still surreal to us and we keep asking ourselves whether this really happened or if it is just a dream. We have cried until our tears dried up and we are exhausted from crying,” he said.

He added that the family had received widespread support, including from government officials. The Department of Health has provided psychological support to the children of the deceased and has promised further assistance, while the local ward councillor has also offered support.

On Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma expressed his sorrow over the incident and highlighted the deep emotional impact it has had on the Mnyango family.

“We have no words to describe the pain that the Mnyango family is going through following the death of six family members,” Duma said.

DAILY NEWS