Tragedy on R42: Entire Family of Six Wiped Out in Devastating Crash
According to a NewsVista reporter, a devastating accident along the R42 Meyerton–Heidelberg Road on Monday, July 14, 2025, claimed the lives of six members of the same family. The white Ford Focus they were traveling in collided with a heavy-duty truck around 3:30 p.m.—a crash so severe that no one made it out alive.
The victims have been identified as 68-year-old David Khehla Malindi, his wife Anna (61), their two adult children Mhlanganisi (35) and Phindile (33), a 27-year-old relative Xolani Bocibo, and 3-year-old Lwandle Malindi Tshabalala. All were residents of Unitaspark, Vereeniging.
The Unitaspark community has been left in pieces. Neighbours described the Malindis as humble, united, and full of life. “We’ve lost a whole generation—from the grandparents to the baby,” one heartbroken resident told NewsVista.
Locals say the R42 has long been a danger zone, with poor road signs and reckless truck drivers. This tragedy has reignited calls for proper safety measures, speed controls, and urgent government intervention.
The funeral, held on Saturday, July 19, was a tear-filled affair. From sorrowful hymns to silent prayers, the ceremony left many in disbelief. But it was the tiny white coffin of little Lwandle that shattered hearts the most.
The family has asked for privacy as they try to process this unbearable loss. Meanwhile, the community continues to grieve—and to ask why.
May their souls rest in peace.