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South Africa is no stranger to the urgent and emotional topic of road safety, data from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) shows that 1,451 people died on South Africa’s roads during the 2022/23 festive period – a 13.9% decrease in road fatalities from the previous year (1,685). It is undeniable that road safety is a critical issue that demands our collective attention and efforts.
We often set ambitious goals and strive to achieve them, rarely contemplating our mortality as we navigate our daily lives. While many of us hold funeral policies to safeguard our loved ones in the event of our passing, it takes a tragic event to remind us that life is borrowed, and our earthly journey will eventually come to an end.
On Thursday, we extended our deepest condolences to the friends, family, and colleagues of the late Bukhosi Jikizwa. As we gathered to commemorate his life at the memorial service, our hearts were heavy with sorrow. It wasn’t long ago that we shared moments of joy with him at a gathering, unaware that it would be our last opportunity to clink glasses and share a laugh.
I struggle to find the words to convey the depth of my emotions, but I am compelled to share how Bukhosi supported me during one of the darkest periods of my life. In 2021, I survived a harrowing car accident, miraculously escaping without a scratch. The aftermath involved grappling with insurance companies, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the trauma of the accident. It was during these trying times that Bukhosi stood by my side, offering unwavering support. I can still recall the sadness in his eyes when I informed him that I had decided to part with the damaged car.
What this experience taught me is that Bukho, as we fondly called him, and his older brother Mzo, were embodiments of genuine love and unwavering friendship. As the municipal manager aptly noted during the memorial service, Bukhosi was known for his willingness to help and his determination to get things done.
In times of sorrow and loss, it is comforting to reflect on the words from Revelation 21:4: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
In loving memory of Bukhosi Jikizwa, may we find solace in his enduring legacy of friendship and unwavering support.
Lala ngoxolo ntsizwa yakithi, may your soul rest in peace. Q
