9 more Vapositori perish in SA accident

SOUTH AFRICA – Nine members of Nyenyedzinomwe Apostolic sect were killed, while six others were seriously injured in a road accident along the R25 Highway near Kempton Park on Sunday evening when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a delivery van.

It is reported that the victims were travelling from a church service in Swaziland heading for Zimbabwe.

South Africa’s Netcare 911 spokesperson Mr Santi Steinmann said the latest incident occurred at around 11pm adding that the six injured were treated on the scene and were later transported to nearby hospitals.

The latest accident brings to 24 the number of Zimbabweans who were killed in road accidents in South Africa’s Gauteng Province in a space of a week.

Last week 15 members of Johane Masowe weChishanu were killed when a Mitsubishi-Colt they were travelling in collided with a bus along the R510 Highway in Rustenburg while they were also coming from a church service. The incident occurred between Northem and Rustenburg.

One of the church members Mr Simbarashe Nengomasha appealed for well wishers to assist the church in repatriating the bodies to Zimbabwe. “This is shocking and we are appealing to well-wishers to assist us in securing coffins and repatriating the bodies from South Africa for burial,” he said.

He said the victims were all based in Zimbabwe and that they had gone for prayers at one of their branches in Swaziland. Zimbabwe’s Consular General to South Africa, Mr Godfrey Magwenzi said they were yet to get a detailed report on the accident.

“We are yet to get a detailed report on the accident so that we verify their nationalities. We will give them the necessary assistance as soon as that process is complete,” he said