Social workers have been deployed to support the families of a husband, wife, and their one-year-old child who died in a tragic crash on the N1 outside Bela-Bela over the weekend.
Paul Masunda had been accompanying his wife, Beauty, and their child as they prepared to board a bus to Zimbabwe on Saturday.
After seeing them off, Masunda crossed the N1 highway with his nephew, who had travelled with the family. He was struck by a vehicle driven by an off-duty officer and died at the scene.
According to family spokesperson Rabson Masunda, the nephew immediately called Beauty to inform her of her husband’s death.
In distress, Beauty reportedly ran across the highway with her child on her back, where she was struck by another vehicle in which Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was travelling. She and the child also died in the collision.
Earlier reports suggested the Minister had been travelling in a convoy, but during a visit to the bereaved family on Friday, Motsoaledi clarified that he was in a single vehicle accompanied by two protection officers.
Rabson Masunda said the family does not blame the Minister or his security detail, describing the incident as an accident. He added that both drivers could not reasonably have anticipated pedestrians crossing the freeway.
The family has expressed gratitude for the support provided by social workers and Department of Home Affairs officials as arrangements continue for the repatriation of the bodies to Zimbabwe.
Motsoaledi visited the family on Friday to offer his condolences, noting that two individuals are now facing culpable homicide charges in connection with the incident.