Mar 05 2009
The Turn-Off Tragedy
Franco, Davies and Zenzo had been training to be soldiers for six months now and they were about to graduate. It had been a long wait, so far yet so near. That day filled them with premature happiness, and with images of their smiling brothers, sisters and parents ululating, they beamed with smiles each time they talked about it. In the barracks the youthful boys were laughing, “I will put on my navy blue suit that day”, remarked Zenzo as he drank the last gulp of Mazoe drink that he had diluted. This was one of those Saturdays when they were supposed to have a break and go home, but the trio chose to stay in the barracks. It looked a long week towards graduation , but soon they would be fully fledged soldiers. When it seemed a long time, that day soon arrived. Early the following morning they woke up and parked in front of their barracks was a huge Puma track, with the National flag. They were going to graduate at Battlefields Army Base, a distance of 100 kilometers away. Soon they were on their way dressed in full military fatigue. The early morning sun was rising and despite wearing caps, beads of sweat flowed down their foreheads. Meanwhile, the driver with sweaty palms drove cautiously and at one moment shielding his eyes against the sparkling sun. With ten kilometers of the journey left, the driver lost control, and the heavy Puma began to skid on the hot tarmac. Momentarily, he thought to himself, had he checked the brakes? Suddenly as he attempted to turn he lost total control. Twenty trainee soldiers were thrown into the air as the huge track veered off towards the opposite side. Ten died on the spot, five had broken limps and the remaining five were bruised. This brought an end to the journey, the trio failed to graduate on that fateful day.
