The Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal has begun the process of providing counselling to the family and friends of a 12-year old Mpophomeni accident victim fatally injured by a state vehicle on R617 route, last week on Monday.

The team comprising of senior officials from the Social Development, Agriculture and Rural Development departments today visited the Ngqulunga homestead to offer condolences and assistance to the grieving family.

The first team’s visit to the family was last week, Thursday, to begin initial trauma counselling soon after the accident was reported.

In today’s engagement with the family, it was agreed that the Departments would continue to lead the process of providing psychological counselling, social relief packages, food security starter-pack under the One Home, One Garden programme and extension advisory services to ensure the sustainability of the family.

The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, has offered her heartfelt condolences to the family and traumatized friends who were with the deceased during the accident.

She said, “the employee involved in the accident has been suspended from work pending internal investigation”. The MEC added that the Department will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the employee involved is brought to book, if found guilty.

She also made a call to state vehicle drivers to obey the rules and be extra cautious when driving on public roads.

For more information, kindly contact, Mr. Vusi Zuma on 082 419 2887.