Kabelo Tlhabanelo
On Friday afternoon, they stood on the side of the road like they do every other afternoon, hoping to catch the attention of potential clients from passing cars.
But a bakkie, whose driver said he fell asleep behind the wheel, lost control and veered off the road.
He crashed into the group of nine and left one dead.
The badly injured women were rushed to the Pelonomi hospital in Bloemfontein, Free State.
It’s reported that after the bakkie lost control, it veered into an oncoming lane and crashed into the sex workers that were sitting on the road side in Caleb Motshabi, Mangaung in Free State.
After the accident, angry residents tried to beat up the driver but the police immediately deescalated the tense scene when they arrived.
Eyewitness Themba Moshweu said the sex workers were sitting at their usual spot when they were hit by a bakkie.
He told Scrolla.Africa: “The bakkie just left its lane into an oncoming lane and next thing we knew it crashed into the women. It was like a horror movie to see injured women crying for help covered in blood.”
One 40-year-old sex worker, who has remained unnamed, was killed at the scene.
A sex worker who was a few metres from where the accident took place said all the woman wanted was to work for her family.
She said: “She was a true hustler and a family-oriented woman who always mentioned that she wanted what was best for her kids.”
She said their work was very dangerous and difficult but they had to put food on the table.
“Some of us have to lie about what we do for a living. Others tell their families they work at restaurants. It is sad that this accident will reveal the sad truth,” said the woman.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo confirmed the incident and said the driver of a white Toyota Hilux was immediately arrested.
The 48-year-old driver claimed to the cops that he fell asleep behind the wheel before his bakkie hit the group of women.
The arrested driver was charged with culpable homicide and will appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.
