She had sleepless nights attending court for a trial she thought would never come to an end.
Entertainer and nurse Nonhlanhla “Skolopad” Qwabe is relieved that it is finally all over and the courts have found her not guilty of culpable homicide.
It took her time to realise that it was not her fault, and she can finally sleep without feeling guilty about the accident that happened in September 2018.
The head-on collision between a man and Skolopad, who was driving a Renault Sandero, which happened at Mampoyi Road in Qwaqwa around 8pm changed the performer's life.
“I was disciplining my child when the police saw me,” Skolopad tells Drum.
“They felt I was too harsh on the child and wanted to arrest me,” she says.
"They instructed her to drive to Namahadi Mokodumela police station, accompanied by a male police officer who sat in front on the passenger seat while I drove and a female officer who was at the back with my daughter, while the other van followed us,” she says.
On the road, the Umzimba singer says the female officer did not like her driving and “grabbed the steering wheel”.
“She took the steering wheel and we hit the oncoming car head-on.”
Skolopad says this happened while she was going over a speed hump.
“The female police officer in the back grabbed the steering wheel, and we crashed with an oncoming car and the driver of the vehicle died. The man also didn’t have a seat belt and succumbed to internal bleeding,” she says.
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Since the accident, Skolopad has not been the same. She was hospitalised for weeks and had a lot of injuries.
“I was injured from head to toe. My hip, thigh, and both knees were broken, and I had a concussion,” she says.
“It was so bad that I had amnesia and struggled with a severe case of memory loss.”
Skolopad says the passengers in her car also sustained injuries.
“The two police officers were injured; the lady sustained a head injury and the man hurt his hand and my daughter was also hurt on the hand. But I had the most injuries,“ she says.
She is feeling much better but believes she will never fully recover and will depend on painkillers for all her life. The once-talked-about performer who graced red carpets with dramatic outfits like the meat costume at the Feather Awards can no longer entertain.
“I have recovered, somewhat but I cannot do a lot of things I did in the past. I can no longer dance, run or walk a long distance in high heels, and I love high heels,” she says.
“I also can’t drive long distances and I have to take painkillers for my head every day. That is not healthy. I also tend to forget things easily and that is frustrating.”
Skolopad was unable to claim any funds from the Road Accident fund due to the length of time the case had taken.
“It is too late for Road Accident Fund. The court dragged and it’s taken three years, so I don’t qualify. I don’t know if that was done intentionally or not. But it is well, I am alive and safe. That is all I am grateful for.”
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This is the second time Skolopad was admitted to the hospital. The first time she was rushed to the emergency room after overdosing on anti-anxiety pills. This accident triggered her anxiety and affected her mental health.
“My depression just became worse after this crash because my entire life changed,” she says.
“I was already living with depression and due to this, I suffered even more depression. I am not living the life I used to. I can’t make extra money as I did through gigs, dancing, appearances, and entertainment,” she says.
But Skolopad had been working on her mental health and attending counselling.
“I make sure not to miss my counselling sessions. I take my meds and I fight for my life every day. Maybe I will get used to the changes in my life. At work, I am getting support. They have been patient with me because I am no longer able to work the way I did. They offered me a sick pension, but I could not accept it. I need to be busy for my mental health and to feel human again,” she says.
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Skolopad is sad that she can no longer be able to entertain people.
“But I am relieved that the court did not find me guilty,“ she says.
“This case has been dragging on for a long and cost me mentally, physically, and financially.”
Skolopad is sad she could not attend the funeral of the man who died in the accident due to being hospitalised.
“The family was never happy, they needed clarity. I just hope they find healing and understand what happened was not my fault,” she says.
“It took a lot out of me. I could not even post my usual content on social media because I did not want to offend his family and look happy while they grieve. But I wish they make peace just as I am learning to live with the drastic changes in my life,” she adds.
