East London mother killed in horror crash ‘died brokenhearted’

An East London mother has died brokenhearted, never discovering what happened to her son Zane, who went missing more than a year ago.

Rita Adams, 57, died without closure on Monday after being involved in a horrific head-on collision with a truck on the N2 near Mooiplaas, in one of four serious accidents in the Buffalo City Metro that day.

The accident that claimed her life left Adams’ two young grandchildren, a boy and a girl, injured.

The two-year-old boy’s condition was so severe he had to be airlifted to hospital, while the girl — Zane’s daughter, aged six, was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Both were reportedly still in hospital by the time of publication.

Family spokesperson Brendan Cassels, Adams’ younger brother, said she had not given up hope that Zane would return home one day. 

Adams, from Haven Hills, East London, and her grandchildren were returning from visiting Cassels’ family in Pietermaritzburg.

They left the KwaZulu-Natal capital on Sunday and, en route to East London, visited relatives in Tsolo and Mthatha before leaving for the city on Monday.

The Dispatch reported in July 2024 that Adams was still desperately hoping to find Zane, who went missing on May 27. He was 32 at the time.

Adams had last spoken to Zane the previous day, just before he left his home to visit his girlfriend and his daughter in Amalinda.

A desperately worried Adams had said she had heard rumours that her son had been attacked and killed or kidnapped.

Police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala confirmed at the time that Zane had been reported missing and police were investigating, but on Tuesday she could not verify whether there was a missing person’s case under his name.

However, the SAPS website lists Zane as a missing person after the case was registered on May 29, 2024.

Adams had gone to hospitals, mortuaries and walked the streets of East London looking for her son.

Cassels said he heard of his sister’s death at about 5pm on Monday.

“We are finding it difficult to come to terms with her passing. It is hard, especially on her sisters, who are taking it badly. 

“She was always the one in the family who believed she would find Zane alive.

“She was brokenhearted about her son’s disappearance. It’s staying with the grandchildren that kept her going.”

Cassels said the family had exhausted all possibilities in their search for Zane, and their sister’s sudden death this week had added to their grief.

“Knowing what has happened to my sister and knowing where she will be laid to rest brings closure.

“But not knowing where Zane is or laying him to rest will always be an open wound.

“Even if he had been killed, we would have a dignified send-off that would bring us closure.”

We spent time praying for about two to three hours

Cassels described the holidays spent with his sister as a wonderful time, saying the family had celebrated birthdays and his and his wife’s wedding anniversary.

He recalled Adams saying, as she left their home, that she wouldn’t see them for a long while.

“I took that to mean that since they were here now, the next holiday would be a long time away. I didn’t see she was saying goodbye.”

Tearing up, Cassels described his big sister as “the most humble and sweetest person who lived with the bare minimum but had the biggest heart of giving, with all the hardships that she went through”.

“That’s what makes this whole thing so surreal.”

Amalinda Jesus Centre prophet Ian Conway was among those who had assisted Adams in the search for her son.

“She had gone to various funeral parlours to search for his body, and after that she began searching for assistance from different people to spread information for people to look out for him, and that’s how she came to me,” he said.

“We spent time praying for about two to three hours. She was crying throughout, and the other times we met, she was trying to be strong for the two children.” 

The funeral service will be on Saturday next week in East London. Adams will be cremated. 

In a separate accident in Ntabozuko (formerly Berlin), on Monday, a crash involving eight vehicles resulted in the death of a child. 

Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the accident involved a truck, a bus and six light vehicles. 

“There were 38 people involved altogether. One child died, five people were seriously injured, seven escaped with minor injuries, while the rest were unscathed.”

Binqose said smoke from a nearby veld fire may have contributed to the accident.

“Eyewitnesses and survivors pointed to thick smoke being present at the time.”

Another accident, involving a truck, took place on the R72 highway near the turn-off to Kaysers Beach. 

Binqose said the truck collided with a bakkie, resulting in the death of the bakkie driver, while the passenger was critically injured.

The passenger was stabilised and transported to Frere Hospital.

Daily Dispatch