Cycling on his way home after completing his night shift in Muizenberg, Mountain Men security guard Alwaba Thembani, was struck from his bicycle in a road accident earlier this month.
Tragically he never made it home.
The accident which occurred on Wednesday 7 September, left residents in shock and family members without a breadwinner and a father.
Jaclyn Mecinska, in a Facebook post, claims she witnessed the tragic accident in St James.
“I was unfortunately one of those people who saw the poor man who was run over by the truck in St James early yesterday evening.
“I also saw the poor truck driver. The look on his face, and the image I saw will stay with me for a long time. It has affected me deeply.”
She added that the road was not wide enough to accommodate both cars and cyclists with a safe passing distance, and most definitely not safe for “massive trucks and cyclists.”
“Too many innocent people’s lives have been lost or changed for the worse in a second because there just isn’t enough space on the road.”
On Friday 23 September, Thembani was laid to rest in the Eastern Cape. His wife was too traumatised to speak at the time.
Candice Cyan Coury, a Muizenberg resident, has since started a back-a-buddy campaign to financially assist the family who lost their sole breadwinner.
“Thembani, husband and father of three young children was returning home after his long shift as a Mountain Man in Muizenberg on September 7. He was struck off his bicycle by an unknown vehicle on the narrow strip by St James and then hit and killed by a large truck that drove over him.
“It is hard to imagine how gruesome an end that is. As fellow humans we need your help please.
He was the sole breadwinner for his household and left behind his young wife and three kids under the age of six.
“We are urgently wanting to raise funds to support his wife and kids through these next few months so that they can grieve this enormous loss while paying for their basic needs.”
Cyan Coury further added that it was a very tragic and senseless accident.
“As a member and business owner in the Muizenberg community, I have personally witnessed the bravery, commitment and safety that these men show. This is an extremely tragic story of a precious life cut short in the most senseless way.
“A man that spent his days protecting the communities.
“He was an avid cyclist and would commute daily from Masiphumelele to Muizenberg and for shifts 06:00 to 18:00 and then rotate night shifts.
“This is a gruelling and high-risk job not to mention the lack of consideration from many motorists towards cyclists on the road.
“The car that hit him off his bicycle is yet to be identified. We would really appreciate any donation given and it will be paid directly to his grieving wife, Nonkumbulo.”
