The secretary to an ANC MPL in Bhisho miraculously survived a night on the side of the N2 near Berlin after a hit-and-run incident.
The impact left Lusanda Rubuluza unconscious for several hours and he only came round the following morning before managing to crawl to the middle of the N2.
Two cars narrowly missed hitting him as he lay helpless in the road waving for assistance before a third stopped and eventually summoned help.
Rubuluza, who is the secretary in the office of ANC MPL Fezeka Nkomonye-Baleni, was then rushed to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital and later St Dominic’s in East London, but his right leg could not be saved and it was amputated. His right arm is broken.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch from his Lusikisiki home, Rubuluza, who doesn’t own a car, said his ordeal started when he hitch-hiked from King William’s Town to Berlin last month.
“It was after 8pm when I got a lift from King William’s Town. I agreed with the driver to take me to Berlin. However, along the way he changed his mind and said he would drop me along the N2.”
He said it was dark and foggy when he alighted and began to cross the N2 near the Berlin offramp.
“Initially I thought the vehicle was miles away, but when I tried to jump the second lane on the freeway, it knocked me down and I was out. I think it was before 9pm when this happened and I only regained consciousness the following morning.
“I did not know where I was and tried to move my legs, but they did not respond. I also realised my right arm was broken.”
Rubuluza said he tried to use his phone but its battery had died.
He said it must have been after 5am when he eventually dragged his body to the middle of the N2 in a bid to attract the attention of passing motorists.
“I tried to wave at oncoming vehicles. It was still quiet, but two cars approached, swerved to avoid hitting me and then sped off.
“However, a good Samaritan stopped. He called police and medical help. It was just after 6am when I got to hospital,” he said, adding that his right leg had to be amputated above the knee.
“It’s been tough losing my leg. I was sitting in a chair and tried to get up forgetting I only had one leg and fell over and broke my arm again.”
The hit-and-run was reported to the Berlin police station and investigators have visited him to take a statement.
Provincial police spokesman Khaya Tonjeni refused to comment on Friday, saying he wanted “written consent” from Rubuluza first.
Rubuluza, however, told the Dispatch that investigators had read a statement to him made by an East London motorist who had since came forward to report that he had hit “a person or an animal” in the vicinity of Berlin that night. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Secretary of ANC MPL loses leg in accident
The impact left Lusanda Rubuluza unconscious for several hours and he only came round the following morning before managing to crawl to the middle of the N2.
Two cars narrowly missed hitting him as he lay helpless in the road waving for assistance before a third stopped and eventually summoned help.
Rubuluza, who is the secretary in the office of ANC MPL Fezeka Nkomonye-Baleni, was then rushed to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital and later St Dominic’s in East London, but his right leg could not be saved and it was amputated. His right arm is broken.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch from his Lusikisiki home, Rubuluza, who doesn’t own a car, said his ordeal started when he hitch-hiked from King William’s Town to Berlin last month.
“It was after 8pm when I got a lift from King William’s Town. I agreed with the driver to take me to Berlin. However, along the way he changed his mind and said he would drop me along the N2.”
He said it was dark and foggy when he alighted and began to cross the N2 near the Berlin offramp.
“Initially I thought the vehicle was miles away, but when I tried to jump the second lane on the freeway, it knocked me down and I was out. I think it was before 9pm when this happened and I only regained consciousness the following morning.
“I did not know where I was and tried to move my legs, but they did not respond. I also realised my right arm was broken.”
Rubuluza said he tried to use his phone but its battery had died.
He said it must have been after 5am when he eventually dragged his body to the middle of the N2 in a bid to attract the attention of passing motorists.
“I tried to wave at oncoming vehicles. It was still quiet, but two cars approached, swerved to avoid hitting me and then sped off.
“However, a good Samaritan stopped. He called police and medical help. It was just after 6am when I got to hospital,” he said, adding that his right leg had to be amputated above the knee.
“It’s been tough losing my leg. I was sitting in a chair and tried to get up forgetting I only had one leg and fell over and broke my arm again.”
The hit-and-run was reported to the Berlin police station and investigators have visited him to take a statement.
Provincial police spokesman Khaya Tonjeni refused to comment on Friday, saying he wanted “written consent” from Rubuluza first.
Rubuluza, however, told the Dispatch that investigators had read a statement to him made by an East London motorist who had since came forward to report that he had hit “a person or an animal” in the vicinity of Berlin that night. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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