Four family members of a KwaZulu-Natal student studying medicine in Cuba have been killed in a car crash. The accident killed three fathers and leaves 15 children in the family relying on a single pension grant from a 94-year-old grandmother.
Mfanafuthi Brian Gasa is studying third year medicine at the Latin America School of Medicine. He is being flown home from Cuba to attend his family members’ funeral by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
The accident‚ a head-on collision‚ took place on Friday 22 January near Greytown. All four occupants of the car died:
- 51-year-old Bongani Gasa‚ father of Mfanafuthi‚ was working as a bus driver and leaves behind eight children.
- Sdumo Gasa‚ 31‚ the student’s brother‚ who was unemployed. He leaves behind two children.
- Erick Nanto Gasa‚ aged 47‚ also had no source of income. He leaves behind two children.
- Sandile Richard Gasa‚ 39‚ who was working for the Department of Health at Escort Hospital as an Enrolled Nurse. He leaves behind his wife and three young children.
In another vehicle‚ two brothers were injured. One is a doctor employed by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. Both are receiving treatment in hospital.
KwaZulu Natal MEC for health Sibongiseni Dhlomo said: “What Mfanafuthi is currently going through‚ is something that no one at his age has emotional capacity to deal with“. What makes it even worse is that this happened when he was so far away.
“We have already ensured that he is able to pay his last respects to his beloved as he is scheduled to land on the South African soil on Friday‚ January 29‚” Dhlomo said.
The funeral for all the Gasa family members will take place on Saturday‚ January 30‚ at Matimatolo‚ Greytown.
The department statement said: “For survival‚ the Gasa family will now solely depend on the pension grant of the 94-year-old granny until Mfanafuthi finishes his studies and takes over where his father left off“.
Family tragedy for student doctor in Cuba
Four family members of a KwaZulu-Natal student studying medicine in Cuba have been killed in a car crash. The accident killed three fathers and leaves 15 children in the family relying on a single pension grant from a 94-year-old grandmother.
Mfanafuthi Brian Gasa is studying third year medicine at the Latin America School of Medicine. He is being flown home from Cuba to attend his family members’ funeral by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
The accident‚ a head-on collision‚ took place on Friday 22 January near Greytown. All four occupants of the car died:
- 51-year-old Bongani Gasa‚ father of Mfanafuthi‚ was working as a bus driver and leaves behind eight children.
- Sdumo Gasa‚ 31‚ the student’s brother‚ who was unemployed. He leaves behind two children.
- Erick Nanto Gasa‚ aged 47‚ also had no source of income. He leaves behind two children.
- Sandile Richard Gasa‚ 39‚ who was working for the Department of Health at Escort Hospital as an Enrolled Nurse. He leaves behind his wife and three young children.
In another vehicle‚ two brothers were injured. One is a doctor employed by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. Both are receiving treatment in hospital.
KwaZulu Natal MEC for health Sibongiseni Dhlomo said: “What Mfanafuthi is currently going through‚ is something that no one at his age has emotional capacity to deal with“. What makes it even worse is that this happened when he was so far away.
“We have already ensured that he is able to pay his last respects to his beloved as he is scheduled to land on the South African soil on Friday‚ January 29‚” Dhlomo said.
The funeral for all the Gasa family members will take place on Saturday‚ January 30‚ at Matimatolo‚ Greytown.
The department statement said: “For survival‚ the Gasa family will now solely depend on the pension grant of the 94-year-old granny until Mfanafuthi finishes his studies and takes over where his father left off“.
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