Mom's agony as child is crushed to death by refuse truck

“Umtanami! Umtanami!” [My child!]

This was the cry of a 47-year-old mother moments after she and her four-year-old daughter were hit by a municipal waste truck along Poppy and Shevers streets in Villa Liza Extension 2, Ekurhuleni. 

Little Samukelisiwe, who was strapped to her mother, Fundiswa Ngxabi's back, died at the scene. 

The incident happened just before 8am and residents who spoke to Sowetan on Sunday said Ngxabi's screams pierced the air. 

Witnesses say the driver initially hit the mother and child and then inexplicably reversed, further crushing them. 

“The guys [picking up waste] tried to stop the driver, but he kept reversing,” said Sam Mthunzi, 22, who saw the horror unfold.

“It was chaos.”

Ngxabi was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. There are fears that she might end up being wheelchair-bound. 

Her niece, Sandiswa, said: “I was at work when neighbours called and told me about the accident. They told me to come quickly as my aunt and cousin had been hit by a waste truck just a few streets away from home.”

She described her aunt’s health condition from a previous road accident and the family’s dire financial situation.

“My aunt had been hit by a car last year and still had metal fittings in her leg. Now she might never walk again. She did part-time jobs to help us get by. I only recently started working, but now I don’t know how we’ll manage.” 

Sandiswa said the truck’s reckless speeding is nothing new.

“Every week, we worry. These trucks always rush, like they’re running out of time. We usually make sure kids stay off the road when they are around.

“This road is far too narrow for a truck. We still don’t understand how this even happened.”

Ngxabi’s sister, Nomonde, said the waste contractor has approached the family and offered to cover the funeral costs.

“We are still waiting for answers,” Nomonde said.

Gauteng police confirmed that a case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

The City of Ekurhuleni issued a brief statement confirming that the waste truck involved in the fatal incident belongs to a private service provider contracted to its Waste Management Services department. 

City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini had not responded to allegations about the waste trucks always speeding at the time of going to print. 

“We just want someone to be held accountable,” said Sandiswa.

“The least they [city] can do is to make sure no other family goes through this.” 

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