KRANSKOP/ESTCOURT – The uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party is grappling with the loss of several members in two separate accidents within a fortnight, casting a pall over the organisation.
The first tragedy, which occurred two weeks ago, saw a taxi carrying 17 MK women overturn and catch fire at the Ntunjambili bend near Kranskop, claiming the lives of six women.
The party's KZN coordinator, Kwazi Mbanjwa, revealed that his mother was among the six who perished in the fiery crash.
"She had severe burn wounds because we went to see her, she was really not doing well. She got burnt when she was trying to assist her mother, she also got burnt badly," he said.
One of the initial survivors of the accident, Thembisile Mazibuko, succumbed to her injuries in hospital on Sunday. uThukela region Spokesperson, Mncedisi Makuyi, confirmed that Mazibuko had suffered severe burns and was hospitalised after the crash.
Adding to the grief, a second accident involving several MK party members occurred on Saturday, 14 September, between Estcourt and Loskop in KZN. The victims had been attending the memorial service for the six members who perished in the initial crash.
According to news reports, the injured in the recent accident were returning from Loskop, where they had dropped off other party members who had attended the mass memorial service. The injured were taken to hospital.
The memorial service, held at the Wembezi Stadium in Escourt, was addressed by MK party leader, Jacob Zuma, who described the deceased as "soldiers" who had died while on their way to his homestead in Nkandla to celebrate his wife, Sizakele maKhumalo Zuma.
"They wanted to visit you out of love, especially because they knew you had also joined MK," Zuma said while addressing his wife.
"Condolences to the families. These were soldiers; they showed us what leadership is and how the struggle is conducted.”
Zuma explained that the MK women had decided to visit his wife to celebrate her decision to "wait for him" when he was arrested. He had given her the green light to move on with her life and find another partner, but she chose to remain loyal.
However, the memorial service was marred by a disruption caused by some party members who refused to be addressed by KZN party secretary Thobani Zuma. Zuma issued a strong warning to these members, urging them to report their issues through the appropriate channels.
Families of the victims expressed their gratitude to the MK Party for their support during this difficult time. However, one family expressed their concern and pain that they could not bury their loved one due to the pending pathology results. They pleaded with Zuma to intervene and expedite the process.
The tragic accidents have highlighted the dangers of travelling on the roads in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly on the notoriously dangerous Ntunjambili bends. The accidents have also raised concerns about the safety of MK party members, who often travel long distances to attend events and meetings.
The MK party has expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and has pledged to support them through this difficult time. The party has also called for a thorough investigation into the accidents to determine the cause and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
