Tragedy struck the northern KwaZulu-Natal area of Nquthu on Tuesday afternoon on the eve of the much-awaited municipal by-elections when three school children died after being knocked by a car.

The children‚ Ayanda Mazibuko‚ 9‚ Zamafuze Ngcobo‚ 17‚ and their cousin Andiswa Buthelezi‚ were standing on the side of the road in Ward 13 of Nquthu Municipality when the accident happened.

ANC MPL and Nquthu elections spokeswoman Nomagugu Simelani-Zulu said the ANC was shocked and dismayed by the “passing of the three children who were struck by a car in Nquthu on Tuesday afternoon”.

“Although the details regarding the death of the children are still sketchy‚ it appears that the vehicle veered off the road and hit them while they were on their way to fetch water‚” she said.

If free and fair‚ IFP will do well in Nquthu by–elections: ButheleziBuoyed by recent successes in dozens of other northern KwaZulu-Natal municipalities‚ IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi on Sunday sought to mock the ANC and the DA — its coalition partner in other municipalities — saying he was surprised by their encroachment in Nquthu. 

Speaking after visiting the family on Tuesday afternoon‚ the ANC provincial chairperson‚ Sihle Zikalala‚ said: “We are deeply disturbed and shocked by the passing of the children. What saddens us most is the fact that the children died while they were going to fetch water which is a few kilometres from their home.”

Using the incident to advance his party’s election pledge Zikalala said that his ANC government will ensure that the people of Nquthu receive “clean potable water right on their doorsteps”.

ANC Women’s League President‚ Bathabile Dlamini‚ was also among ANC leaders who visited the family on Tuesday to convey their condolences to the family‚ community‚ and neighbours of the deceased.

Nquthu will be going to the polls on Wednesday morning in an attempt to reconstitute the dissolved council.

TMG Digital