Human rights lawyer killed in N2 crash 'an aid for communities seeking justice'

Human rights lawyer killed in N2 crash 'an aid for communities seeking justice'

Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube says it's time to discuss the place of trucks on KZN roads and their contribution to accidents.

human rights lawyer John Wills
Facebook: John Wills

It follows two crashes around the M41 in Umhlanga this week.


On Tuesday, human rights lawyer John Wills was killed when his motorcycle collided with two trucks on the N2 before the M41 ramp.


According to paramedics, Wills was trapped underneath one of the heavy-duty vehicles. 


He died at the scene, while two other people were injured. 


The day before, a tipper truck caused a 50-car pile-up on the M41 when the driver lost control and ploughed into slow-moving traffic.


A close friend and colleague of Wills says his death has devastated not just his family but the lives he has changed.


"John was a human rights activist and a lawyer who represented a lot of our struggle veterans. He intervened in communities that were seeking justice at the time all over KZN. His interest was in the protection of the communities and individuals who were the victims of apartheid and unjust laws." 


READ: Tipper truck driver in court for Umhlanga M41 pile-up


Dube-Ncube has described Wills as one of the country's best-known human rights lawyers.


She says he served as an advisor to three former premiers of the province up until his retirement in May 2019. 


Wills is survived by six children and two grandchildren.

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