A HORROR accident claimed the life of Thembalam Dlutu (50) in Philippi East, Cape Town on Christmas Day, 25 December.
Thembalam’s friend and witness to the ordeal, Thulani Mabaso (47), said he saw a bus speeding past the traffic light on Govan Mbeki Road.
“We were waiting at the robots with my friend when I heard a big bang and saw my friend being knocked down and dragged about 800 meters away from where we were standing. He was then left on the pavement. He had a lot of blood coming from his head,” he said.
Thulani said Thembalam had started shouting that the bus was going to kill him before the accident happened.
“He said, 'I’m going to die now'. When I looked at him, I saw his white eyes and then called for help."
He said he’d forever be haunted by the image of his friend lying in a pool of blood.
“It was like there was a tokoloshe who stole my friend right next to me."
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Thulani said they were on their way home from Ikhwezi township, where they were visiting boys who were undergoing initiation in the bushes.
“We didn't know the bus would kill my friend,” said the crying Thulani.
A family member said he was devastated after receiving a call that his brother was involved in a bus accident.
“When I looked at him, I saw he had a lot of blood on his head and face. He was also lying on top of the bus bumper,” said the relative.
He said he asked the driver why he killed their brother.
“The driver said he was rushing to fetch people.
"As a family, we are still shocked. We had prepared to eat lunch as a family. But our Christmas ended in tears. We want justice for our brother," said the family member at the scene.
Provincial police spokesman Sergeant Wesley Twiggy said Lentegear cops had registered a culpable homicide case and investigations were continuing.
