"We were on the back of a delivery truck with a bull which was tied with rope around its legs. Suddenly, the rope came loose and the bull became aggressive. I jumped from the moving truck and fell on the tarred road, but I was not injured. Khuriso also jumped, but unfortunately, he was crushed to death by an oncoming vehicle. Vutivi also jumped, but he was so injured that he died on the way to the Malamulele Hospital."

That is how one of the seven shocked survivors, Hlayisanani Hakamela (13), described how his friends died in what was supposed to be an enjoyable and memorable ride with a bull on Friday.

Next door neighbours Khuriso Baloyi (10) and Vutivi Sithole (8) died a terrible death and their death has sent shockwaves through Jerome Village, a stone’s throw from Malamulele. Both boys were Grade 3 learners at the local Magoda Primary School. The survivor, Hlayisanani, is a Grade 6 learner at the same school.

He explained what happened on the fateful day. "As usual, we traveled with my uncle on his delivery truck to Xikundu Village, to collect a bull that was to be delivered to Mavambe Village. The sun was setting rapidly when we succeeded in tying up and loading the bull onto the delivery truck. There were nine boys in the back of the delivery truck and we were sitting comfortably as there was enough space for the bull and us. Five of the boys come from my family."

Hlayisanani said all hell broke loose when the rope came loose and "the bull became violent. It happened so fast that the driver continued driving, because he was not aware of what was taking place. Everyone was trying to save his own life by jumping from the moving truck. The truck then stopped and the driver realized that two of the nine boys were missing. Ironically, one of the boys in the truck was his son, but he was not injured. It was becoming dark and we then moved back on foot, only to find Khuriso’s body a few metres from where he had fallen to his death. Vutivi was badly injured. The vehicle that hit Khuriso never stopped and its whereabouts are still a mystery to all of us."

The grandmother of one of the dead boys, Selinah Hakamela, said: "I can’t believe that my beloved grandson, Khuriso, is no more. I have never come across something incredible like this since I was born. It is not easy to accept what happened because it was mysterious. The boy was intelligent and we expected a lot from him when he grew up but the cruelty of death has struck us a terrible blow. We are devastated, depressed and tongue-tied."

Vutivi’s aunt, Eunice Sithole, grievingly said: "How on earth can we go on with life in a situation like this? Vutivi died a cruel and painful death but there is nothing we can do, because we cannot reverse the situation. Our hearts are flooded with pain and tears will never stop running down our faces."

Meanwhile, Mopani police spokesperson Supt Moatshe Ngoepe confirmed the incident. He said a culpable homicide case has been registered against the driver of the truck while investigations continue.