DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Sne’s chance of becoming a canoeing champion has been snatched from her, but the injured teen isn’t about to give up on her dream

- NONKULULEKO MAZIBUKO

IT WASN’T just a good day – it was a great one for Snethemba Ntombela (15). The young athlete had completed her best canoe race yet and had qualified to represent Gauteng at the South African School Sprint Championships in April.

Sne, who lives in Ntsoaledi, a new informal settlement in Devland, Soweto, was celebrating her accomplishment. The teen and her teammates were enjoying kotas before they walked to the Power Park sports complex’s swimming pool, where they often trained.

Then disaster struck.

All Sne can recall is chatting to her friends. Then waking up in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

“I only remember waking up in hospital,” Sne says softly.

“I don’t remember any details of the crash, or even recall seeing the car approaching me.”

Sne and her teammates had returned to Power Park after taking part in the Gauteng Sprint Championships at the Germiston Victoria Lake Rowing Club.

The girls had packed away their boats in the clubhouse and enjoyed their kotas when they decided to go for a swim in the sports complex’s pool.

Out of nowhere a car crashed into the group, hitting Sne.

Sne’s mom, Simangele Ntombela, claims the driver – who was allegedly drunk – got out of his car and attempted to drag the unconscious teen out of the road.

“I heard from her coach that the driver was trying to flee the scene. Luckily, other people were there who restrained him,” an emotional Simangele says.

The crash left Sne with a shattered right hip and a broken leg. She is unable to walk or sit up comfortably and has undergone two hip operations.