Mass funeral of minibus crash victims

August 26, 2017. Mass funeral in Manzolwandle Sports Field, KwaXImaba for 19 killed in KwaZulu-Natal taxi crash last Sunday. Picture: THULI DLAMINI

Nineteen framed pictures rested on top of blanket-covered coffins, a chilling reminder of the lives that were lost in a horrific minibus crash west of Durban last week.

Thousands of mourners gathered in a massive tent at a sports field in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Saturday morning to pay their respect to the victims of horror crash. A mass funeral took place at the Inkosi Manzolwandle Sports Field in KwaXimba, just a few kilometres from the fatal crash site.

18 dead as passengers flung from taxi in horror Pietermaritzburg crash

Last Sunday morning, 19 church members were killed when a minibus taxi that was ferrying congregants to a tombstone unveiling ceremony overturned at Msunduzi Bridge near Nagle Dam in KwaXimba‚ halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It was reported that the taxi was overloaded and is alleged to have experienced break failure.

At the funeral members of the Zion church sang songs of praise.

26 people crammed into deadly 16-seater Msunduzi taxi

Among the government delegates were Zweli Mkhize,  eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede,  national transport minister Joe Maswanganyi,  Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,  Weziwe Thusi and MEC for Transport Community Safety and Liasion, Mxolisi Kaunda.

Taschica Pillay

TMG Digital