It is expected that the memorial service for the train accident will be attended by the Mayor of Durban, Mr. Cyril Xaba and the Prime Minister of Zulu, Mr. Thulasizwe Buthelezi at Open Space Sportsground No 6, Ward C, Amanzintoti Road, KwaMashu, on Sunday at 9 am.
In this service organized by the St Johannes National Church of Zion under Dr Archbishop Siyabonga Chiliza, 87 passengers who died in the accident at Duffs Road, Durban, on October 14, 1965 will be remembered.
The Deputy Secretary at St Johannes National Church of Zion KwaMashu, Ms Thobile Kweyama, said The public is invited to come in large numbers.
Mrs. Kweyama said it will be the second time they remember the tragedy.
“This service has always been held every year to remember those who left us. However, this year we wish to take it to another level as we invite the KwaMashu community and Prasa employees,” said Ms Kweyama.
According to recorded history, this train that was planned by this thief had loaded black people who were estimated from 1,200 to 1,500. This incident took place in the times before apartheid. In an act of revenge, the passengers took out their anger on the railway staff.
Crowds of people gathered and marched to the scene of the incident. It’s on the weekend found that there were about 100,000 people who attended the funeral service of these 87 black workers. According to https://en.wikipedia.org, this accident was caused by deliberate negligence because black people were being taken on trains that were not suitable for people and were too old to be crowded.
“It was on the 4th of October 1965, a South African Railways 11-coach train was full of between 1,200 and 1,500 black people, who were coming from work in Effington, going through Durban Station, returning to where they lived in KwaMashu township, at around 5.28 pm. On Effingham Road, the last three carriages overturned and ended They overturned. The driver and the driver said they heard a noise and the train overturned.”
In this incident, the passengers were found scattered about 300 meters away from the railway. It is said that doctors, nurses and first aid rushed to the scene. One of the survivors of the accident accused the Afrikaner government of conspiring to kill black people in the accident.
That’s why a 25-year-old white man, Walter Hartslief, said he was going to help at the scene of the incident. Three people were convicted in Hartslief’s death.
