4 days ago
George mother of 3 killed days after starting new job
On last Friday night, August 1, two days after starting a new job as a general worker at Empa Structures in Wilderness, Heidi Mlinjane (44) tragically died in a vehicle-pedestrian accident on the N2 between Thembalethu and Lawaaikamp.
Just three months ago, this mother of three boys, Ronaldo (22), Crushegan (16) and Janaywin (13), moved out of her parents' home for the first time after having been allocated an RDP house.
With a heavy heart, her boyfriend, Ben Mali (47), told George Herald of some of the plans Mlinjane had had for the future.
'She wanted to expand the RDP house and see her kids, especially the two teenagers, grow up and flourish. We thought we'd grow old together.'
She was also very close to her younger brother, Corné Boezak (33), who describes her as a mentor from whom he had learnt countless valuable life lessons. 'The kids are taking big strain and we're just taking it one step at a time,' said Boezak.
He described how the malicious comments made on social media by people who did not know Mlinjane were deeply hurtful to the family.
Boezak and Mali describe Mlinjane as very likeable people person with a great sense of humour and who lived with an open hand.
'Help me!' she cried
The incident happened while Mlinjane was on her way home from work after being dropped off at a central point by her employer. She is understood to have been in the middle of an intermittent WhatsApp conversation with her brother when tragedy struck.
Boezak's last message to Mlinjane at 17:59 remained unanswered. He received word of the incident and arrived on the scene minutes later. Mali had arrived shortly before him.
They described the excruciating pain she was in, clearly communicated through her facial expression. 'Help me!' she cried out as the paramedics fought for her life.
She had apparently sustained a head injury and multiple fractures, including at least one femur.
Bleeding internally, Mlinjane was apparently resuscitated twice in hospital. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to bring her back when her heart stopped beating for a third time.
Mugging claims unconfirmed
While reports have surfaced on social media of frequent muggings taking place on the four pedestrian bridges in that area, causing people to illegally cross the N2 on foot, none of these claims could be linked to this incident.
Especially since, according to Mali, his girlfriend's cellphone and an undisclosed amount of cash was still with her after she had been struck.
Southern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Christopher Spies could not link an incident of robbery to this vehicle-pedestrian accident. He did not respond to this publication's question on whether police crime statistics reflect incidents of pedestrians being mugged or robbed on the pedestrian bridges in question.
According to Regulation 323 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (under the National Road Traffic Act, 1996), it is against the law for pedestrians to be on a freeway except when crossing it at a designated pedestrian bridge or crossing, or if directed by a traffic officer, or if their vehicle has broken down and they must walk to get assistance (and even then, only under certain conditions).
However, the vehicle driver was initially charged with reckless and negligent driving. Those charges were later upgraded to culpable homicide when Mlinjane died.
The police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Mlinjane's funeral is at 9 Nel Street, Borcherds, at 09:30 on Saturday morning, 9 August.
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