Four members of the Maswanganyi family who died in a crash on the N1 highway last week were buried in Xikundu, Limpopo, on Friday. Hundreds of mourners and officials attended the service at Mayeke Primary School. One child survived and is receiving treatment.
Hundreds of community members and government officials gathered at Mayeke Primary School in Xikundu, outside Malamulele, for the funeral of Collins Maswanganyi, his wife Patience, and their children Katekani and Kuhlula. The family was traveling from Gauteng for the Easter holidays when their vehicle collided with another on the N1 outside Modimolle. The coffins were taken directly to the school and then to a family cemetery, in line with cultural practices.
Family spokesperson Elisa Maswanganyi explained that remains from unnatural deaths, such as accidents, are not brought to the homestead to avoid bad luck. "The elders advised that when someone died from unnatural causes you cannot have their remains enter the home yard as it will bring bad luck to the family," he said. He noted confusion, as this is not the first such incident in the family. A neighbour who died in the crash was buried last Monday, and one child is recovering at Bela-Bela Hospital.
Limpopo Transport MEC Violet Mathye, who attended, attributed the crash to an alleged drunk driver making a U-turn on the busy N1. The driver has been arrested. "We are saddened by the deaths of these people from the same family. However, we are saying that we will allow the law to take its course," Mathye said.
Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba delivered the eulogy and urged drivers to act responsibly. She highlighted reckless driving as a leading cause of holiday fatalities. The provincial Department of Transport reported more road deaths this Easter than last year.
