Crash councillors named

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Published Jan 16, 2012

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Three Nelson Mandela Bay metro councillors killed in a car accident on the R72 near Hopewell were named by the municipality on Monday.

Mxolisi Gumenge, Phumeza Lose and Noncedo Ngqondi were killed when their vehicle overturned on Sunday night, said Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile in a speech prepared for delivery at the Port Elizabeth City Hall.

Earlier, Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea said it was believed the accident was caused by a Toyota Quantum swerving to avoid a cow that had strayed onto the road.

Eleven other councillors suffered various injuries in the crash, which Wayile described as “sad and catastrophic”.

They were on their way back from the Nelson Mandela Law School at Fort Hare University's East London campus, where they were studying local government law and public administration.

Ngqondi, the councillor in Ward 15, also served as chairman of the municipal public accounts committee. He was a representative of the African National Congress's budget and financial planning standing committee.

Gumenge, councillor in Ward 26, was a member of the standing committee for sport, recreation, arts and culture.

Ward 55 councillor Lose was a member of the standing committee for electricity and energy.

Wayile conveyed his condolences to the families of those killed in the crash. Their deaths left a “vacuum”, he said.

A meeting would be held on Tuesday to ensure that services to the affected wards would continue.

The African National Congress said their deaths were a loss to the council and the public in general.

“We dip our banner with gratitude to these young, intelligent and future building cadres who spared neither strength nor courage to ensure that the ANC becomes a more effective instrument in the hands of the people,” regional secretary Zandisile Qupe said in a statement. - Sapa

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