Woman killed on N2 two days into new job

On Friday night, 1 August, two days after starting a new job as a general worker at Empa Structures in Wilderness, Heidi Mlinjane (44) tragically died in a vehicle-pedestrian accident on the N2 between Thembalethu and Lawaaikamp.

- Jacqueline Herbst

Just three months ago, this mother of three boys, Ronaldo (22), Crushegan (16) and Janaywin (13), moved out of her parents' home for the first time after having been allocated an RDP house.

With a heavy heart, her boyfriend, Ben Mali (47), told George Herald of some of the plans Mlinjane had had for the future. "She wanted to expand the RDP house and see her kids, especially the two teenagers, grow up and flourish. We thought we'd grow old together."

She was also very close to her younger brother, Corné Boezak (33), who describes her as a mentor from whom he had learnt countless valuable life lessons. "The kids are taking big strain and we're just taking it one step at a time," said Boezak.

He described how the malicious comments made on social media by people who did not know Mlinjane were deeply hurtful to the family.

Boezak and Mali describe Mlinjane as very likeable people person with a great sense of humour and who lived with an open hand.