What was meant to be a joyous celebration for graduating nurses was tinged with tragedy yesterday after a car smash claimed the lives of four nurses and their driver, a paramedic.
The nurses were on their way to their graduation ceremony when the vehicle they were in, a Toyota Avanza, rolled on the R63 between Debenek and Middledrift.
Three of the nurses died instantly, and one of them and the paramedic were declared dead on arrival at Victoria Hospital in Alice.
The nurses who died had put in weeks of extra work so they could have their certificates conferred on them alongside their classmates.
Eight nurses were being transported in the Avanza.
A nurse who is 14 weeks pregnant was injured in the crash. She was in a stable condition last night.
The nurses who died were identified as Nozuko Gamtela, 48, Nomxolisi Ngqobe, 39, Nokulunga Jabavu, 38, and Ntombikayise Lungu, 37.
The driver was identified as 36-year-old Lufefe Josayi, a paramedic at Flagstaff Hospital.
Gamtela worked at KTC Clinic in Qaukeni, Ngqobe at Holy Cross Gateway, Jabavu at Mount Alyiff Hospital and Lungu at Flagstaff Clinic.
The accident happened at 5.42am. Police were notified at 5.50am.
Police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the Avanza rolled in front of an oncoming truck.
The driver of the truck was transferred to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane.
All five of the deceased had been Eastern Cape Department of Health employees based in the OR Tambo district.
The nurses were studying at the Lilitha Nursing College subcampus at Madzikane Kazulu Hospital in Lusikisiki. They were on their way to the University of Fort Hare in Alice, where the college held a huge graduation ceremony for 1 064 nursing students from across the province.
Lilitha Nursing College principal Nomvuyiseko Links said the graduation ceremony had to go ahead after the tragedy.
“As painful as it was, we could not cancel the ceremony as every campus had attended,” Links said.
“We started the ceremony with a prayer and a moment of silence.
“Those who were hurt quite badly were students from the same campus where the deceased were studying.”
She said the nurses who died, together with their classmates, had worked hard.
“Their exams were externally moderated and marked.
“The courses included some practical work and for one to be conferred with a certificate means that person has studied hard to meet the quality assurance process,” Links said.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA’s Khaya Sodidi said news of the accident had been received with great sadness.
“It is a sad day for the nursing community,” Sodidi said.
“There is a gross shortage of nurses in our country. To lose four nurses in one go is shocking and unacceptable.
“Ee send out our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.”
Eastern Cape police said they were investigating a case of culpable homicide.
The post Anguish at graduation ceremony after nurses die in road accident appeared first on HeraldLIVE.