SANDILE Nogawuza (44), from Xhongora Village in Mthatha, discussed the pain of losing his wife and his son in a DMJ bus accident, which happened at Kei Cuttings, between East London and Mthatha, on August 16.
The bus was travelling from Cape Town to Mthatha. The accident claimed the lives of 31 people.
He said he was travelling with his wife, Ntombodidi Gawuzela (39), and their son, Unabantu Gawuzela (3).
He was one of the bereaved families who attended a memorial service that was hosted by councillors from King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality at Mthatha Stadium in Mthatha, last week.
He said when they were in Bhisho, they noticed that something was wrong with the bus, and they then informed the driver.
“He told us to be patient, saying that if we wait for another bus we could wait for even a week. At the Kei Cuttings, it started swerving.
“After that it overturned. After all this drama, I managed to crawl trying to go out of the bus.
“I saw my son lying there helplessly. I called him by his name but he could not respond. When I went next to him I saw that he was no more. I was now worried about my wife, while I was still searching for her, I was taken by an ambulance to Frere Hospital,” said Gawuzela.
He said that after he was discharged from hospital, he had to identify the body of his wife.
He confirmed that now he is left with only three children.
“It is still like a (bad) dream to me and I don’t think I could ever forget this,” he said.
