An unsuspecting hitchhiking experience on Friday night ended in tears, when a high school learner jumped out of a moving vehicle in fear of his life.

Kwena Manamela (20) of Tshidimbini village, north of Thohoyandou, sustained hand, leg, rib and back injuries when the driver failed to stop where the young man was supposed to alight. “I had to jump out of the moving vehicle, because I feared for my life. I did not even know the driver and I told myself that I needed to take action before it was too late,” said Kwena, who is nursing his injuries at home.

The sad Kwena explained what happened on the fateful day: “I visited a friend at Dzingahe village on Friday. It was at about 17:30 when I decided to go home with another friend. We hitchhiked on the road, but no vehicle stopped for us. On seeing that it was difficult for us to get a lift at the road, we decided to go to the nearest filling station to try our luck with vehicles coming for fuel.”

Kwena said a red Toyota bakkie with a white canopy emerged at the filling station. “The bakkie had three passengers in the front seats - a gentleman and two ladies whom I did not know. We then asked for a ride and the driver offered us a space in the back. We told him that my friend would alight at Matatshe junction and he said he would drop me at Tshidimbini-Mathitshereni.”

Speaking in agony and with difficulty, Kwena said the driver of the bakkie faithfully stopped at Matatshe and his friend alighted. “I was surprised when the driver did not stop at my destination. I knocked loudly for several times but he kept on increasing the speed. When we approached the Mukula junction, I decided to jump off the vehicle, because I was tired of knocking. I said a short prayer before I closed my eyes and threw myself onto the rough tarred road. That was when I experienced the injuries that I am presently nursing. Fortunately, there was a police van which followed the bakkie, and they returned with the driver to the scene. The driver claimed that he did not hear my knockings, because he was playing loud music, an explanation that I refused to accept. Although he paid me a visit on Saturday, I am not convinced by his explanation, which he repeated.”

Kwena said he was later taken to hospital for treatment. When Mirror visited him on Monday morning, he was preparing to go to Donald Fraser Hospital to complete the doctor’s evaluation form.

“I will take the form to the police so that a case can be registered against the driver as a matter of urgency.” Sadly, the Grade 12 leaner at Tshidimbini High School will no longer be able to concentrate on his books due to the pains in his body.

“I am preparing for my final Grade 12 examinations and it will be difficult for me to cope. I thank God because I am alive and I believe I will have a speedy recovery so that I can write my examinations.”