A joyful celebration for graduating nurses turned to tragedy and mourning when four nurses and their driver were killed in a horrific car smash on the way to the ceremony.
The nurses who died had put in weeks of extra work so that they could have their certificates conferred alongside their classmates.
A paramedic was transporting them in a Toyota Avanza.
A nurse who is 14 weeks pregnant survived her injuries and was in a stable condition last night.
The dead women were identified as: Nozuko Gamtela, 48, who was going to be awarded a certificate in enrolled nursing (EN), Nomxolisi Ngqobe, 39, EN, Nokulunga Jabavu, 38, EN, and Ntombikayise Lungu, 37, who was to receive a certificate of qualification as an enrolled nursing assistant.
The dead driver was identified as Lufefe Josayi, 36, who was a paramedic at the Flagstaff Hospital.
Gamtela worked as a nurse at the KTC Clinic in Qaukeni, Ngqobe at the Holy Cross Gateway Clinic, Jabavu at the Mount Ayliff Hospital and Lungu at the Flagstaff Clinic.
The accident happened at 5.42am on the R63 between Debe Nek and Middledrift. Police were notified at 5.50am.
Police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the Avanza, which was carrying nine people including the driver, rolled in front of an oncoming truck, killing three nurses instantly. The fourth woman and the driver were declared dead on arrival at Victoria Hospital in Alice a few minutes later.
All five deceased were employed by the Eastern Cape department of health in the OR Tambo health district.
The four nurses had been studying at the Lilitha Nursing College at Madzikane Kazulu Hospital sub-campus in Lusikisiki.
The nurses had been on their way to the University of Fort Hare in Alice, where the college was holding a huge graduation ceremony for 1064 nursing students from across the province.
The four surviving nurses had been travelling from Mount Frere Clinic, Holy Cross Gateway Clinic, Holy Cross Hospital and Madzikane Hospital.
The driver of the truck was also injured. He was transferred to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.
Lilitha Nursing College principal Nomvuyiseko Links said the graduation went ahead as planned.
“As painful as it was, we could not cancel the ceremony as every campus had attended,” Links said.
“We started the ceremony with a prayer and a moment of silence. Those who were badly affected by the news were students from the same campus where the deceased were studying.”
She said the dead nurses had worked hard, like all nurses at the ceremony, for their qualifications.
“Their exams were externally moderated and marked. The courses include some practical work and for one to be conferred with a certificate means that person has also studied hard to meet the quality assurance process,” Links said.
Khaya Sodidi of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) in the Eastern Cape said they had received the news of the accident with great sadness.
Sodidi said: “It is a sad day for the nursing community. There is a gross shortages of nurses in our country.
“To lose four nurses at one go is shocking.
“In these difficult times we send out our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.”
Eastern Cape police said they were investigating a case of culpable homicide. The docket was opened at the Middledrift police station. — zwanga@dispatch.co.za
Tragedy shrouds graduation
The nurses who died had put in weeks of extra work so that they could have their certificates conferred alongside their classmates.
A paramedic was transporting them in a Toyota Avanza.
A nurse who is 14 weeks pregnant survived her injuries and was in a stable condition last night.
The dead women were identified as: Nozuko Gamtela, 48, who was going to be awarded a certificate in enrolled nursing (EN), Nomxolisi Ngqobe, 39, EN, Nokulunga Jabavu, 38, EN, and Ntombikayise Lungu, 37, who was to receive a certificate of qualification as an enrolled nursing assistant.
The dead driver was identified as Lufefe Josayi, 36, who was a paramedic at the Flagstaff Hospital.
Gamtela worked as a nurse at the KTC Clinic in Qaukeni, Ngqobe at the Holy Cross Gateway Clinic, Jabavu at the Mount Ayliff Hospital and Lungu at the Flagstaff Clinic.
The accident happened at 5.42am on the R63 between Debe Nek and Middledrift. Police were notified at 5.50am.
Police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the Avanza, which was carrying nine people including the driver, rolled in front of an oncoming truck, killing three nurses instantly. The fourth woman and the driver were declared dead on arrival at Victoria Hospital in Alice a few minutes later.
All five deceased were employed by the Eastern Cape department of health in the OR Tambo health district.
The four nurses had been studying at the Lilitha Nursing College at Madzikane Kazulu Hospital sub-campus in Lusikisiki.
The nurses had been on their way to the University of Fort Hare in Alice, where the college was holding a huge graduation ceremony for 1064 nursing students from across the province.
The four surviving nurses had been travelling from Mount Frere Clinic, Holy Cross Gateway Clinic, Holy Cross Hospital and Madzikane Hospital.
The driver of the truck was also injured. He was transferred to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.
Lilitha Nursing College principal Nomvuyiseko Links said the graduation went ahead as planned.
“As painful as it was, we could not cancel the ceremony as every campus had attended,” Links said.
“We started the ceremony with a prayer and a moment of silence. Those who were badly affected by the news were students from the same campus where the deceased were studying.”
She said the dead nurses had worked hard, like all nurses at the ceremony, for their qualifications.
“Their exams were externally moderated and marked. The courses include some practical work and for one to be conferred with a certificate means that person has also studied hard to meet the quality assurance process,” Links said.
Khaya Sodidi of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) in the Eastern Cape said they had received the news of the accident with great sadness.
Sodidi said: “It is a sad day for the nursing community. There is a gross shortages of nurses in our country.
“To lose four nurses at one go is shocking.
“In these difficult times we send out our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.”
Eastern Cape police said they were investigating a case of culpable homicide. The docket was opened at the Middledrift police station. — zwanga@dispatch.co.za
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