A year after a tragic head-on collision near Sasolburg claimed the lives of four members of the Sukhari family, relatives have unveiled memorial plaques at the crash site in their memory. The Sukharis, who were travelling between Sasolburg and Johannesburg on Diwali Day, lost their lives when their vehicle was allegedly struck by a white bakkie driven by a person under the influence of alcohol.
The memorial, erected near the crash site, features four plaques surrounded by flowers and carries the words "Four Stars in the Night", an Aum symbol, the names of each family member and the words "Forever in Our Hearts". The plaques were unveiled a day after a one-year memorial ceremony attended by approximately 300 guests. According to Vinesh Sukhari, the brother of Sewkumar "Smiley" Sukhari, the memorial serves as both a tribute and a warning to motorists.
The Sukhari family, consisting of Sewkumar, 62, his wife Shanitha, 59, and their daughters Trisha, 26, and Nicole, 24, had been visiting friends and delivering Diwali parcels when the accident occurred. The family's vehicle was allegedly hit by a white bakkie driven by a person who had been drinking and was driving recklessly. The driver of the bakkie died at the scene, while Nicole, an engineer at Sasol, succumbed to her injuries in hospital five days later.
The recent memorial ceremony was conducted according to Hindu rites and was attended by more than 300 people. It followed a funeral attended by over 2,000 people, with a further 20,000 viewers joining online from around the world. Vinesh Sukhari expressed that the passage of a year has done little to ease their pain, and the family is still struggling to cope emotionally and are heartbroken.
Vinesh Sukhari described his brother Sewkumar as someone whose life was inseparable from the family's history. He also remembered Shanitha as a beloved sister-in-law and Trisha and Nicole as two young women whose lives were filled with promise. The family's grief was compounded by anger and helplessness, and they are still learning to carry the pain of their loss.
The family only heard about the crash the following afternoon on Facebook, and they were forced to prepare for four funerals simultaneously. Vinesh Sukhari recalled the confusion and disbelief that followed the accident, and how his mind heard the words but his heart could not accept them. The family had been told the bakkie driver was under the influence of alcohol and had died at the scene.
As Diwali approaches, the festival that once represented celebration and family togetherness now carries a painful reminder of the four lives lost. However, Vinesh Sukhari said that even in the darkness, they hold on to the light that they left behind. The memorial plaques serve as a reminder of the four precious lives that were lost and caution drivers to be careful and not drink and drive.
Key points
- The Sukhari family was killed in a head-on collision near Sasolburg on Diwali Day last year.
- Memorial plaques were unveiled at the crash site a year after the accident.
- The family is still struggling to cope emotionally with the loss of four loved ones.
