An accident that left two women dead has shaken the rural community of Melkbosfontein near Riversdale.
The women, Katrina Nonku, 50, and Christina Pieterse, 25, lived with their respective families in cottages on a dairy farm. They were mowed down by a truck on Monday afternoon.
Witnesses said the driver lost control of the truck while going down a hill towards roadworks close to the bridge over the Goukou River, about 6km from Riversdale.
The women, on their way home from town, were declared dead at the scene.
“It was all so unreal,” said Sophia Loster, 25, who was working as a flag-bearer to warn motorists about the stop-and-go and roadworks.
“This truck was just coming at an unbelievable speed down the hill. Someone later told me the breaks had failed. It was driving in the lane for oncoming traffic, to avoid hitting the line of cars that were waiting at the roadworks. Then oncoming traffic forced the driver to drive off the shoulder and into the embankment on the far side. The whole truck fell over, it was a big crash. I don’t know how the driver survived.”
The driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries. He was in serious shock, said Keri Davids, provincial EMS spokeswoman.
Loster said she did not see the truck hit the women, who were on the far side of the road.
“I ran up to see if I could help the driver and then I saw the two bodies lying there, it was a terrible sight. I knew immediately they were dead. That image has just been replaying in my mind. I couldn’t sleep last night, I’m still so traumatised.”
Zolani Zenzile, spokesman for the Western Cape’s Forensic Pathology Services, confirmed witness accounts.
The bodies had been taken to the Riversdale Forensic Pathology Service and an autopsy would be carried out on Thursday.
Loster was allowed to take off work on Tuesday, but said she would have to return on Wednesday. “But not to that sight. I’ll never work there again,” she said.
The bodies were identified on Tuesday by family at the Riversdale police station.
Contrary to a statement by the provincial Health Forensic Pathology Service, the women were not mother and daughter. They were neighbours whose husbands worked on the Soetmelkfontein dairy farm.
On Tuesday relatives gathered at the house where Pieterse had lived with her partner, Gerrit Jacobs, and their children, Christiana, 3, Devon, 6, and Joanne, 10.
“When she had not returned by the time I got home from work, I tried to call her cellphone. She didn’t answer,” said Jacobs. “The police later phoned me back. I was shocked, but they didn’t say why they were calling. I only heard the news when a detective came to my door… “
Jacobs and Pieterse had known each other since they were children. “We fell in love when we were 13, and we’ve been together since then.”
Pieterse’s mother, Caroline Pieterse, had travelled from Klipfontein to support Jacobs and her grandchildren.
“It is my duty to my grandchildren and to the memory of my daughter,” said Pieterse, who said that she would stay as long as it took before the family was back on its feet.
“She was such a dear girl, I'm angry at the driver. But I am much more sad, than I am angry.”
Pieterse said the family would comment on whether they wanted criminal charges laid against the driver once they knew more about the circumstances of the accident.
Morne D’Emiljo, Riversdale police spokesman, said the 52-year-old driver had been taken into custody briefly, but released since it was found he was not under the influence of alcohol.
“We have opened a case of culpable homicide.”
Said Irene Pretorius, a neighbour of Jacobs family: “It’s such a difficult thing this for someone from our community.
“In our community, traditionally, it is the men who work on the farm, and the women who look after the home and children. Especially when the children are young, as was the case with Christine.
“I know it’s going to be so difficult for Gerrit, but we will all be here to help out with the kids when he needs us.”
Said Anneke Selala, who grew up with Pieterse: “This sort of thing is very difficult for us as a community to come to grips with. We are very close-knit and everyone knows one another.
“Christina was one of my best friends and one of the most loving people around here. Even as babies we were friends. It’s times like these that all of us just have to pull together and support the families.”
Jacobs said that his wife had gone into town to exchange Devon’s school shoes because they were too big.
The box with the new shoes had been entrusted to him.
“Now, at least, I will have a reminder of her every time little Devon goes to school, and when he comes back in the afternoon.”
Nonku’s family could not be contacted on Tuesday. There was no one at home when the Cape Argus visited.
Cape Argus