KZN Department of Transport confirms two fatalities in cliff car crash
Image: KZN Department of Transport
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has confirmed that two people died when a car went off a cliff at KwaSwayimane, outside Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
The bodies of a woman and a Grade 12 pupil were retrieved from the wreckage on Sunday after an aerial search was conducted to find the vehicle.
The department said MEC Siboniso Duma sent a team from his office to visit the Shabalala and Madlala families in Ward 13, KwaSwayimane, outside Pietermaritzburg.
The bodies of a woman and a Grade 12 pupil were retrieved from the wreckage on Sunday after an aerial search was conducted to locate the vehicle.
Image: KZN Department of Transport
'This follows the unfortunate tragic accident that claimed two lives. It is not clear what caused a vehicle driven by Mama Anastasia Shabalala to reverse and inadvertently fall off a cliff. We thank a local teacher Ms Mbali Msomi who alerted Traffic Ambassador, Ayanda Msweli. We acted immediately by calling for the helicopter rescue team and reinforcement.
'We are saddened by the death of Mama Shabalala and Lona Madlala, a Grade 12 learner. Both were in the car. Mama Shabalala, a single parent, received this car last year as a gift from her children. Sadly she left us on Women's Day,' Duma said.
Duma said the Helicopter Rescue Team worked under very difficult conditions to retrieve their bodies from the wreckage located more than 800 metres down the cliff.
'We thank Reverend Xaba and our Ambassador, Pastor Vidima for being with the families. I have mandated my office to arrange social workers to provide professional counselling service to the families.'
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