It was a sad day in Balasi village near Bhisho on Saturday when villagers bade farewell to five young men who had been killed in a car accident just before Christmas.The five died on the scene of the accident after the driver, who is also the car owner, lost control of the Corsa vehicle they were travelling in while trying to negotiate a bend on the R346 between King William’s Town and Stutterheim in the early hours of that morning.
The car went through a barrier and plunged down the side of the road before landing in a ditch. Emergency services had to use jaws of life to retrieve the bodies.
The government-funded mass funeral of the deceased – driver Siphosethu Komnas, 25, Abulela Komnas, 25, Siyavuya Ngcofe, 22, Phumezo Vazi, 33 and 26-year-old Akhona Mlangeni was held on Saturday at Balasi Primary School.
Siphosethu Komnas, Abulela Komnas and Siyavuya Ngcofe are related.
Heart-wrenching sobs from mourners swept through the village as a procession of the hearses drove through the village.
Mourners described the tragedy as “a black Christmas” for the village.
Speaking at the funeral, Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred Mtsi said the death of the young men was a great tragic loss to the metro and to the entire country.
“I did not know these men but from what I have heard from the speakers, it makes me proud of them. This is indeed a tragedy that these lives were taken away so suddenly,” Mtsi added.
The deceased were described as respectful, caring and the pride of village.
Speaking on behalf of the five families, Thozama Lande thanked the government departments, ward councillor Siyabonga Skolo and mayor Mtsi for making it possible for the five friends to buried together.
“These men grew up together. They died together. It was only fitting for them to be buried together,” said Lande. — Additional reporting by Silusapho Nyanda
Balasi village buries five of its finest young men
The five died on the scene of the accident after the driver, who is also the car owner, lost control of the Corsa vehicle they were travelling in while trying to negotiate a bend on the R346 between King William’s Town and Stutterheim in the early hours of that morning.
The car went through a barrier and plunged down the side of the road before landing in a ditch. Emergency services had to use jaws of life to retrieve the bodies.
The government-funded mass funeral of the deceased – driver Siphosethu Komnas, 25, Abulela Komnas, 25, Siyavuya Ngcofe, 22, Phumezo Vazi, 33 and 26-year-old Akhona Mlangeni was held on Saturday at Balasi Primary School.
Siphosethu Komnas, Abulela Komnas and Siyavuya Ngcofe are related.
Heart-wrenching sobs from mourners swept through the village as a procession of the hearses drove through the village.
Mourners described the tragedy as “a black Christmas” for the village.
Speaking at the funeral, Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred Mtsi said the death of the young men was a great tragic loss to the metro and to the entire country.
“I did not know these men but from what I have heard from the speakers, it makes me proud of them. This is indeed a tragedy that these lives were taken away so suddenly,” Mtsi added.
The deceased were described as respectful, caring and the pride of village.
Speaking on behalf of the five families, Thozama Lande thanked the government departments, ward councillor Siyabonga Skolo and mayor Mtsi for making it possible for the five friends to buried together.
“These men grew up together. They died together. It was only fitting for them to be buried together,” said Lande. — Additional reporting by Silusapho Nyanda
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