A couple who moved to South Africa from India a decade ago were killed in a horrific accident in Vanderbijlpark when a speeding driver ploughed into them at the weekend.
Sivakumar Venkatasubramaniam, an ArcelorMittal Steel worker, and his wife Srividhya had been walking on a pavement when the BMW M4, whose young driver also died, approached.
The couple and their daughters, Anjana, 18, and Sruthya, 13, are originally from Chennai.
Anjana told POST she and her sister were battling to cope with the double tragedy.
The second-year IT student at the University of North West said she was now also worried about the future of her studies. “My sister is still in school and I am at university so we want to stay here till we are done.”
She said five of her family members from Chennai had come out for the funerals, which took place on Tuesday.
Anil Kumar Gupta, first secretary to the High Commissioner of India, said they were ready to give all possible assistance. “We are profoundly sad at the untimely demise of the couple,” he said.
Gauteng Traffic Department spokesman Obed Sibasa said the accident happened about 6pm on Saturday. “The 26-year-old driver, who was driving at excessive speed in a 60km/h zone, lost control of his vehicle, hit a tree then hit into the couple,” he said, adding that the woman was decapitated.
ER24 spokeswoman Chitra Bodasing said Srividhya was found about 30m from the vehicle. Her husband was airlifted to hospital where police said he later died. The driver died at the scene.
An ArcelorMittal PRO said the company had been in constant contact with the family.