Concerns For Zimbabwean Boy, 14, After Witnessing Deaths Of Parents And Brother In South Africa

Relatives are worried about the mental health of a 14-year-old Zimbabwean boy who saw both his parents and his one-year-old brother killed on the N1 highway near Bela Bela, Limpopo, South Africa, on Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, Beauty Shoperai, who had her young son strapped on her back, was accompanied by her husband and 14-year-old son to board a bus to Zimbabwe.

Shortly after she boarded, her son called in distress to say her husband had been struck and killed while trying to cross the N1.

Shoperai got off the bus and walked towards where her husband was lying. But before she could reach him, she was hit by an SUV transporting South Africa’s Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi. She died on the spot along with her one-year-old son, who was strapped to her back.

The minister’s vehicle was being driven by a member of the Protection Security Services.

Eyewitnesses described the incident as gruesome. Family spokesperson Rabson Masunda said the surviving 14-year-old witnessed everything.

“The child is very, very devastated. I wish we could get a social worker who can go and try to speak to the child because we don’t know what he is feeling. With his age, it’s not good.”

The two accidents are being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) because both drivers are members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Shoperai’s family said it will be difficult to rebuild their lives after the tragedy.

Members of the Shoperai and Masunda families accompanied EWN to the accident scene. Although the crash happened four days ago, it was their first visit to the site. Dried blood, car debris and nappies are still scattered along the road.

Charles Shoperai described his late sister Beauty as the light of the family.

The family said it does not blame anyone for the deaths. Their focus now is on raising money to have all three loved ones buried back in Zimbabwe.

More: EWN