Thozama Mavis Obese (30) and Babalwa Madinda (32) were travelling with Cape Town friends in a blue Ford Icon. According to SAPS media liaison, Marlene Pieterse, all four women in the vehicle were fatally injured.
The accident took place on Friday about 1km from the Mondplaas turn-off near the Jeffrey’s Bay off-ramp, where roadworks were underway.
According to Pieterse, it is alleged that the 47-year-old truck driver was travelling from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth carrying a 35t load of SASKO flour.
She said that the driver claims that he did not see the warning flags and by the time he tried to stop the vehicle it was too late.
The truck collided with the stationary vehicles, jack-knifed and overturned.
The blue Ford Icon was the rear vehicle in the queue. Its occupants died on impact.
Both Obese and Madinda were employees of the Bitou Municipality.
The former was a clerk in the records department whilst the latter was a clerk in the parks and recreation department.
Madinda was the secretary of the Kranshoek branch of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL). Obese was also an active member of the organisation. "This is a very sad loss for the ANCYL," said Andile Mbali, spokesperson for the ANCYL.
A memorial service will be held at the Roman Catholic Church in Kwanokuthula at 17:00 today, Thursday, December 1. Friends, family and comrades of the deceased will be at this gathering.
"We cannot even pretend to understand the pain these families are going through," said Mbali.
Babalwa Madinda (32)
ARTICLE: CANDICE LUDICK, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
