Luzuko Pongoma

Luzuko Pongoma

Tears and heartache were the order of the day when the family and colleagues of the five people who died in a car accident on Sunday visited their workplace yesterday.

The five, Ntsundzukani Mabasa, Wisani Maswanganyi, Faith Moyo, Solly Ngomane and Elvis Ritshuri, were employees of Manhattan Club in Rivonia, Johannesburg.

They died on their way from work in the early hours of Sunday morning when a stolen Toyota Condor, driven in the wrong lane, facing oncoming traffic, crashed into the VW Golf they were travelling in.

Ntsundzukani's brother, Doctor Mabasa, said his brother was a quiet person who loved art.

"When he was not working he was a carpenter," he said.

Mabasa said Ntusundzukani is survived by his wife and an eight-year-old daughter.

He said that his brother and Maswanganyi, his cousin, were very close.

"They were like twins and were so inseparable they decided to work together," he said.

The families had decided to bury them in a joint funeral this weekend, he said.

Maswanganyi is survived by his three children.

Mabasa said police should make sure that the person who killed his brother and cousin is sent to jail for a long time.

Moyo's friend, Sibongile Nyambi, said Moyo was supportive and never judged people who made mistakes.

"We were always together. Even on the day of the accident we were supposed to go home together but the car was full," she said, weeping.

Ben Ngomane, Solly's father, said his son had visited his mother days before the accident.

He said his son was a kind person who was always willing to help others.

Guy Baranyay of the Manhattan club said that the deceased had more than 20 years of experience between them.

"They were universally liked and respected by both staff and management because of their excellent service."

Siyabonga Miaka, 25, faced five charges of culpable homicide when he appeared in the Randburg magistrate's court yesterday. The case was postponed to Friday.