Four brothers, son, and cousin die in accident
What should have been a weekend of celebration, turned into a weekend of sorrow for a Mhluzi family who lost four of its elders, a son and a cousin, who were all tragically killed in an accident on their return from a wedding in Polokwane.
Joseph Mapetsi Mtsweni (56), Elias Mtsweni (41), Johannes Mtsweni (47), Joseph January Mtsweni (all brothers), Elvis Mtsweni (42), and the men’s cousin David Mahlangu (68), were all killed when Elvis lost control of the vehicle they were travelling in, causing the vehicle to roll several times.
All of the Mtsweni men were declared dead on the scene where meat, given to them at the Jane Furse wedding of their late brother, who passed away before lobola negotiations with the bride, Selinah’s family, could be concluded; lay strewn all over the scene.
Despite their brother’s death, the wedding had to be traditionally concluded, and while the women stayed behind with the bride, to accompany her back to Middelburg, the men left the ceremony, with the meat as symbol of the ceremony having taken place.
When the Mtsweni wives were notified of the deaths, police told them that there had been five in the vehicle.
According to Mr Mapetsi Mtsweni’s widow, Lettie, she told them that a sixth man, Mr Mahlangu, had accompanied them back.
Mr Mahlangu’s body was recovered on the property of business tycoon, Mr Joe Singh, on Sunday.
Police suspect that Mr Mahlangu, who was blind, may have been flung from the vehicle when it rolled at high speed.
The family will also have a cleansing ceremony on the spot where the Mtsweni patriarchs, a son and their cousin had died, ten days after the funeral which will be held on Saturday 12 March at 10:00 in Mhluzi.
Having lost so many breadwinners, the mourning women, all mothers and grandmothers, fear for the future.
