A deep sense of grief and unity filled the air on Sunday, May 18, 2025, as the Khula Village community in Mtubatuba came together to mourn the lives of nine beloved church members tragically lost in a road accident on the N2 near Empangeni just a week earlier.
The solemn mass funeral service, held at Silethukukhanya High School, honoured members of the Umkhumbi Wesethembiso Church in Zion, whose lives were cut short during what should have been a peaceful return from a spiritual gathering.
🕯️ The Lives Remembered
The victims were:
- Sarafina Makhosi Magwaza (57)
- Celiwe Priscilla Zikhali (55)
- Dudu Octavia Mthembu (52)
- Winnie Nobuhle Mkhwanazi (52)
- Cabangile Zodwa Mavundla (52)
- Qhamukile Zanele Khumalo (40)
- Sihle Ndamase (24)
- Mphikiseni Bongani Sithole (57)
- Bongani Ndlovu (46)
Eight victims died instantly when their Hyundai H-100 vehicle was struck by a tow truck on May 11. The ninth passed away the next day at Ngwelezane Hospital.
🙏 A Community in Mourning
The funeral service was attended by family, friends, fellow congregants, and senior government figures including:
- Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa
- KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma
Heartfelt prayers were led by provincial and district chaplains, offering comfort to the bereaved. Speaker after speaker paid tribute to the victims’ dedication to their faith and community.
“We have not only lost loved ones; we have lost pillars of our church and our homes,” said one grieving relative.
⚠️ Road Safety in Focus
The tragedy has reignited calls for improved road safety and stricter regulations for heavy-duty vehicles. Authorities have pledged to investigate the circumstances around the crash thoroughly.
Deputy Minister Hlengwa emphasized the need for preventative measures, stating:
“We cannot allow our roads to continue being the sites of such heartbreaking loss. Accountability is non-negotiable.”
🕊️ Rest in Peace
As the caskets were lowered, hymns and tears echoed through the village. The ceremony not only honoured those lost, but also served as a moment of collective healing for a community bound by faith and sorrow.
🕯️ May their souls rest in peace, and may their memory be a guiding light for safer journeys ahead.
