Survivor tells how bus “fell over the bridge”

WHILE three families are mourning the loss of their loved ones killed in last week’s bus crash, a survivor is counting his blessings to be alive.

Lilly Perumal, 54, Steven Sannassee, 38, and Frank James, 42, all of Tongaat, were killed in the crash.

They were on their way to work when the bus allegedly veered off the road and went over a bridge in Maidstone. Fifteen other passengers were injured and the bus driver is still in hospital.

On Tuesday, Skhumbuzo Zikhali, 59, of Burbreeze said it was a miracle he had survived the crash.

“We were travelling in the bus like we do every morning. Most of us were on our way to work. There was no indication that there was anything wrong with the bus. Suddenly I heard everyone in the bus screaming. Then I felt us falling over the bridge. The bus fell over the bridge…” said Zikhali.

“When I woke up, I was on the ground outside the bus. The bridge was far above me. I am not sure how I ended up outside the bus nor do I remember how I was saved. But I am glad that someone helped me,” he said.

Zikhali sustained severe injuries, including a broken back and a cracked skull.

“I am just thankful to be alive. So many people were injured. Those who died were my neighbours. We all knew each other well because we took the same bus every day. We always greeted each other,” said Zikhali. 

Lilly Perumal had worked at the Celrose factory for 15 years as a machinist. She took the bus daily from outside her home in Burbreeze. 

Her son Denzil, 32, who also worked at Celrose, as a supervisor, said his mother was kind-hearted.

"Anyone who speaks about my mom only has good things to say. No matter the time, she would stop and help anyone in need - whether financially or in kind. I will truly miss her. Her death has not sunk in for me as yet.

“The last time I spoke to her was the day before. I was leaving for my night shift and she had just returned home from work. She was making my lunch even though she was so tired. We spoke about what she would cook for me the next day and I left. It’s sad that tomorrow never came for my mum and we never spoke again,” said Perumal. 

He said he was on his way back home after his night shift when he saw the accident scene.

“I take the same bus to work each day. But I walk home the next morning and my mum would always sit at the window seat so she could greet me as I walked past.

“The day of the accident, I didn’t see the bus but I saw a huge crowd on the bridge. I was curious so I went to look and saw that the bus had fallen over. I did not know if that was my mum’s bus. I ran home to ask my family if she had gone to work. I tried calling her but she was not answering.”

Perumal said he went in search of his mother at the scene. 

“I found my mum face down under a panel of the bus. She was unconscious and covered with rubble. I ran to her but a panel was stuck on her. I kept shaking her and checked her pulse. She was not breathing,” said Perumal.

Perumal said that Reddy's bus owner had reached out to him. 

“We don’t hold the bus owner accountable. We know the Reddy’s well. We have been taking their buses for years and they are like family to us. We had no issues with their buses before and it always felt roadworthy. They even came to visit and sympathise with us at the funeral. They gave us some cash,” said Perumal. 

Frank James, 42, a Malawian foreign national, was also a victim of the bus crash.

Hailma Rajab,45, said they were struggling to come to terms with the loss of her younger brother.

“He was a kind person and man of God. Now that he has passed, my sister-in-law would have to go back to Malawi. There is no one here to support her and their children. The owner of the bus sympathised with us and gave us money. He assured us that if we needed any help, we must not hesitate to call him,” said Rajab. 

Steven Sannassee’s family declined to comment.

Sibusiso Ngema, the traditional leader for Ward 62, which includes Newtown, Burbreeze, Fairbreeze, Sandfields and Maidstone, said the community was upset about the accident.

“They said that they do not want the bus to be on the road anymore. However, we need to listen to both sides of the story which includes that of the bus owner. We called him to a meeting but he did not show up,” said Ngema. 

THE POST