DURBAN - FRIENDS and family of a KwaZulu-Natal mother-of-three who died in a minibus crash at the weekend are still in shock.
Cebile Nzimande, 45, was among seven people who died in a multiple-vehicle crash on the R56 between Richmond and Pietermaritzburg on Saturday evening. Nzimande was on her way to her part-time night shift job as a nurse in Richmond when the minibus taxi and another vehicle collided.
She leaves behind her mother, Zanele, and three children: Samkelisiwe, 23, Sibusisiwe, 19, and Lwandile Nzimande, 12.
The accident happened just a week after she had celebrated her birthday. Her daughter, Sibusisiwe, told the Daily News that the family were shattered at her sudden death.
“I do not know how I even feel. Having to try to answer that question has never felt so strange. It all seems unreal.”
Sibusiswe said that she was at her university residence in Durban when her grandmother called her.
“My grandmother was contacted by my mother’s friend who said someone had informed him about the accident. We were all shocked. We were not expecting such a thing.
“My mother was the sole breadwinner. She even took a second part-time job to ensure that her family were well taken care of. We didn’t know that some day she would lose her life while she was on her way to secure our sustainability,” said her other daughter, Samkelisiwe.
She said everyone at home was still trying to make sense of it all.
Nzimande’s friend, Jabulani Mtolo, who found her at the crash scene and contacted the family, said he had hoped she would live.
He had spoken to Nzimande on the phone just minutes before the accident.
“We spoke almost every day. She had called me on her way to work at about 6pm. At around 6.30pm our mutual friend called and said Cebile was involved in an accident. I used my work vehicle and rushed to the scene.
“I found her sitting. Her head was bandaged, but I was happy she was alive. I thought my prayers were answered.
“I spoke to her as the paramedics were trying to get her put on a stretcher. She complained about not being able to move her leg and her head hurt.”
Mtolo was on his way to take Nzimande’s bag to her children when he received another phone call asking him to come back to the scene.
“I got a little worried, but thought maybe they had found another injured person I knew. I couldn’t believe it when I was told she had died on the way to hospital and that she had to be brought back to the scene. The body was already covered. I was in denial. I asked to see her to prove that it was her. I still can’t believe it.
“I had found her alive. I thought she would live.”
The family are still making funeral arrangements.
Daily News