Birthday turns into funeral
2005-07-06 10:24
Durban - Plans to celebrate the third birthday of Luyanda Khanyile, who died in an
apparent road rage incident at the weekend, have now been turned into
arrangements for her funeral, her distraught mother Pretty Mhlongo said
on Tuesday.
Mhlongo said the family had started making plans for their youngest
daughter's birthday on July 11 when she died unexpectedly following an
apparent road rage incident.
Luyanda was declared dead on arrival at King Edward Hospital after an
argument between her father, Shadrack Khanyile, and a Myna bus driver
resulted in a shootout, leaving the toddler with a bullet wound in the back.
MEC for Transport Bheki Cele visited the family in Cato Manor on Tuesday.
He said the department is saddened by the incident adding that the bus
driver was obviously not fit to carry a gun.
³We cannot let this happen. If
drivers of public transport behave like this, we will be picking up dead
bodies everyday, and that is not acceptable,² Cele said.
He said the bus company, Remant Alton, will have to contribute towards the
Child's burial.
On Tuesday the company said they will provide a bus to carry mourners to
Danhauser where the child will be buried on Saturday. The family and the
company are still negotiating other contributions.
Khanyile and his family were travelling on St Andrews Street on their way
back from visiting a friend in Albert Park on Sunday night. Khanyile said he
was driving on the left hand side of the road getting ready to turn into
Russell Street when the bus driver swerved from the middle lane to the left
and abruptly stopped in front of his car to pick up a passenger.
Khanyile, who drives a VW Golf with tinted windows, said he hooted at the
bus driver, who then moved back into the middle lane. At the intersection of
Russell and St Andrews streets, both vehicles stopped at a red traffic light
and Khanyile commented:
³How can a grown-up man like you drive so badly?² Khanyile said. The bus
driver shouted an insult back before producing a firearm and shot him on the
right hand. Apparently the bullet hit Luyanda who was sitting on her
mother's lap on the front passenger seat facing the window.
Khanyile said the bus driver, whom he identified to the police on Monday,
showed no remorse for what he had done. He allegedly told Khanyile he was
doing his job, picking up a passenger, and was annoyed by the sounding of
the hooter.
The company spokesperson Dan Cloete said bus drivers are not allowed to carry
firearms, adding that they were not aware that the man had a gun. He would
not comment further.
Police spokesperson Michael Read said the man, who has since been suspended
from work, is scheduled to appear at the Durban regional court on Wednesday.