A tragedy occurred over the weekend when three teenage boys, two of whom were from Somerset West, died in a car accident on the R510 near the Welgevonden Game Reserve’s gate, between Lephalale and Vaalwater in Limpopo.
The accident occurred on Sunday 14 January shortly after 16:00 when the Toyota utility vehicle overturned. The exact cause of the accident remained unclear.
Andries Erwee, who was the tour leader, told DistrictMail the boys who died were identified as Jean Conradie of Somerset West, Daniël Jordaan of Somerset West and Werner Oosthuizen of Freemantle, Australia.
The boys were part of a group of youngsters who took part in the Kalahari Survival Adventure Camp and were on their way home when the accident happened.
Erwee said it was his worst nightmare come true, and he had been overcome with emotion and sadness at the incident.
The camp takes teenagers on exciting challenges in nature, in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, and Erwee described it as a course that teaches teenagers to be excellent model citizens and this specific trip was one of the best ever.
“Kalahari Vasbyt is something I’ve lived for since 1987. It’s more than an experience but influences mindsets and solidifies friendships and relationships with nature. On the day of the tragedy, we were on our way back in a convoy when I got a call from one of the boys telling me that a car had rolled. When I got to the scene, I started to pray that the kids had survived, but it was my worst nightmare. One of the children was stuck under the car, and the other boys lifted the car to free him, but he succumbed shortly afterwards.”
Werner and Jean died on the scene, while Daniel died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.
Jean’s brother was also part of the tour and was kept away from the scene to protect him from further trauma, said Erwee.
“We are all traumatised and needed some counselling, from our side we arranged counselling that same evening as well as with the hospital. Although it’s not my fault I have been taking responsibility and doing what I can do to support the other boys and families affected.”
Erwee said a month before the camp every year he is sent photos of boys attending the course, and he prays he can protect and love each one as his own.
“I never had a son of my own, so every year during the camp I have many sons. This year unfortunately I took 32 boys from their families and returned only 29. It’s very painful for me and I feel terrible, but that’s nothing compared to what the parents must feel.”
At least one boy was still recovering at a hospital in Durbanville, and the driver of the vehicle had since been discharged from hospital into the care of his family. Some boys in the vehicle escaped without a scratch, although all have emotional trauma to overcome.
The school Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch posted a tribute to Daniel on its Facebook page, and Parel Vallei also posted a tribute to Jean Conradie.
