She was visiting her family in KwaZulu-Natal for the Easter holidays when she drove straight into her death. The teacher who worked in Johannesburg had no idea that the Nhlungwane bridge in Ntuzuma, which was damaged by the floods in 2021 had not been fixed or properly barricaded. 

UNKNOWINGLY DRIVING INTO A MANHOLE 

Noxolo Khumalo (26) from Ematendeni in Inanda, north of Durban sped off when locals tried to warn her about the damaged bridge. Fearing she was being hijacked, the mother of one, allegedly sped off plunging into the flood-damaged bridge. Noxolo was declared dead on the scene in the early hours of Saturday.

 FAMILY NEEDS ANSWERS 

Noxolo's father, Welcome Mthethwa tells ZiMoja that they want MEC of Transport Sipho Hlomuka to account for his daughter's death. "We want answers as to why the bridge that was ruined during the floods in 2021 is still not fixed after two years," he says. "Noxolo's death could have been avoided had the government done its job," Mthethwa adds. "How am I going to explain to Noxolo's child that her mother is not coming back home? How do I tell her that she saw her mother for the last time on Friday? We are hurting. Our government failed us."?

SHE BOUGHT THE CAR RECENTLY  

Mthethwa further says that the family is still trying to come to terms with Noxolo's passing. "She recently bought her car and we were seeing improvement in her life after she found a teaching job at one of the private schools in Johannesburg. The first time I boarded an airplane was because of her. She was everything to us as the family," Noxolo's father says. The newly appointed Chairperson of Ethekwini Municipality Human Settlements and Infrastructure, EFF's Themba Mvubu was quick to arrive on site to check why the road was not barricaded to avoid vehicles passing through. Mvubu was with the family of the deceased on-site and apologised for the loss of life. Ethekwini municipality spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini refused to comment stating that the road belonged to the national department of transport.