/ 6 October 2003

Police identify crash journalists

Vaal Rand police on Monday identified 10 sports journalists and the driver involved in an accident on the R59 outside Alberton on Saturday that claimed the lives of six reporters.

Fourteen journalists and a driver were returning after covering the Masakhane games in Vanderbijlpark.

Superintendent Piet van Deventer said Charles Khumalo from City Vision and Adolph Nyathi from Township Talk newspaper died on the scene of the accident.

The bodies of two people in the Sebokeng mortuary were not identified as their next-of-kin could not be traced. They also died on the scene, he said.

Duncan Caine was certified dead on arrival at the Natalspruit hospital, while Peter Buthelezi died at the Sebokeng Hospital on Sunday morning. They were from Yfm and Jozi FM respectively.

Charles Mashego and Isaac Molebaloa, both from City Vision, were still recovering in the Johannesburg General hospital.

Gugu Mathonzi from Jozi FM was discharged from the Helen Joseph hospital on Sunday, Van Deventer said.

He said Israel Nkhathi from Kitso Media was still in the Natalspruit hospital. George Maloi from Township Talk was also discharged from the Helen Joseph hospital.

The driver, Herbert Nxumalo, who is an employee of the Gauteng sport and recreation department, and City Vision reporter Happy Mnguni also survived the crash.

The accident occurred at about 6.45pm when a tyre burst. The driver of the minibus apparently lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road, rolling several times before landing on its roof.

On Sunday, Vaal Rand police spokesperson Captain Shado Mashobane said a culpable homicide docket would be opened and investigations were under way to determine whether a charge of reckless and negligent driving could be made against the driver. — Sapa

  • Crash claims lives of six journalists