21 year old killed in accident

Manuel is the youngest brother of well known Juan Pablo De Sousa (35) of Middelburg Cold Storage, better known as Johnny amongst the community.

Manuel was retuning home to Middelburg at about 05:35 that morning after spending the evening in eMalahleni.

According to Johnny, Manuel, who works in eMalehleni, planned to leave his car at home and return to eMalahleni with a lift club.

“At 05:00 my sister, Jenny, spoke to him and he told her that he was on his way to Middelburg”.

The police report states that the driver of a white truck, collided head-on with a maroon Ford Bantam about 10km outside Middelburg on the R555. It is unclear what caused the collision but police did confirm that a case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

The scene resulted in a three hour closure of the R555.

Johnny said that funeral arrangements were still being finalized.

“My little brother was born here in Middelburg at the Provincial Hospital in 1992. He was just four years old when him and my parents emigrated back to Madeira, Portugal.

“It feels like it was just the other day that he was a baby and I was carrying him,” said Johnny.
Manuel returned to South Africa in 2010, and immediately started work at Super Jumbo butchery in eMalahleni where he still worked till his untimely death.

“He loved it here, made friends easily and was so ambitious. The real tragedy is that he died before his dreams could be realised. But maybe he’s in a better place now, he’s at peace”.

• According to the De Sousa family, the funeral is likely to take place at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cowen Ntuli Street on Tuesday, 20 March at 11:00.

Any enquiries in this regard can be directed to 082 964 2131.

yaseen@mobserver.co.za