Simon Maduwa, the 50-year-old man who died in a horrific car accident along the D3715 road on 3 December, was laid to rest during an emotional funeral service held for him on Saturday at Tshikhwani cemetery.
Maduwa lost control of his vehicle and it overturned between Tshiozwi and Madombidzha. He was a kitchen worker at Makhado Air Force Base.
Chief Mbulaheni Ramabulana said that the incident had not only touched the family, but the community as a whole. He expressed his condolences to the family of the victim. "It is high time that we start to be our own traffic officers by driving responsibly. Let us support the Arrive Alive campaign. Don't drink and drive. Let us rest if we feel tired. It is now the festive season and people must be very careful when driving," Ramabulana urged motorists.
Family representative Edward Masala told mourners at the service that the family had accepted their loss, though they still found it hard. "It is important to acknowledge the community and traditional leaders' support since we were greeted with this sad news. God has done his will and there is nothing we can do because the situation is irreversible," he said.
Tshikhwani Civic member Enos Muswede said they had come there to bury a soldier. "We sadly accept his death, but we console ourselves by the achievements he accomplished in his life. We do not dwell on the years lived, but we invest in the quality of life lived, no matter how short it was. We do not have proper words to explain how he will be missed. May his soul rest in peace," he said.