According to SAPS media liaison, Malcolm Pojie, the accident took place at 09:20 on the N2 some 5km from Knysna in an area known as Springveld. He said that due to the severity of the collision, the road had to be closed until 11:30 when the road was opened for single-lane traffic. At about 13:00 the road was reopened for normal traffic flow.
The minibus taxi heading toward Knysna collided head-on with the Jetta heading toward Plett. It is believed that the taxi driver had lost control of his vehicle and moved into the lane of oncoming traffic.
Pojie said that the driver and an occupant of the Jetta died on the scene. Their bodies had to be cut from the wreckage with mechanical cutters. Pojie added that 16 passengers from minibus taxi were taken to the Knysna Provincial Hospital. Six people with serious injuries were later transferred to the George Provincial Hospital, one of whom perished before being submitted to the Intensive Care Unit, bringing the currently confirmed death toll to three.
Plettenberg Bay Secondary School teacher Clive Ferendale (45) and his daughter Feran (20) a student at NMMU who had passed her recent exams with distinctions, died at the scene. The third victim is believed to be Ferendale's girlfriend, Melnicia Phillips, a teacher at Crags Primary School. It has been reported that Ferendale's 12-year-old daughter Lesray and Feran's boyfriend Braun-Leigh Madatt suffered serious injuries in the accident.
Clive Ferendale was also a respected cricket coach. The South Western Districts (SWD) Cricket Board expressed its sadness and sympathy on his passing. Ferrendale, originally from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape was the coach of the Pioneers Cricket Club in Plett.
“This is a tragedy for the cricket fraternity as well as for the community of Plettenberg Bay,” said South Western Districts Cricket Board President, Rudy Claaassen. “On behalf of the SWD cricket family I extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends on their loss in this very difficult time,” he said.
Happier days. Clive Ferendale (centre) and his daughter Feran (left) died in a head-on collision on the N2 on Friday, January 3. Twelve-year-old Lesray (right) suffered serious injuries.(Photo: Facebook.)
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