Learners, faculty mourn teacher
Through their tears, the learners sang to honour Kamogelo Moepye.
With bowed heads, the William Hills Secondary School learners silently took their seats when they assembled to pay their last respects to their beloved teacher, Kamogelo Moepye, on September 13.
The 26-year-old mentor, confidante and educator succumbed to her injuries on September 2 at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital after an alleged house fire in Kwa-Thema.
It was initially alleged that a heater in the room where the young woman slept at her boyfriend’s home caught fire on August 19.
Captain Naldah Sekgobela, the SAPS Ekurhuleni district communications office, confirmed that on September 4, they arrested her 31-year-old boyfriend when investigations into the incident saw the inquest docket changed to a murder charge.
The suspect, an alleged teacher in Kwa-Thema, briefly appeared in the Kwa-Thema Magistrate’s Court however investigations are continuing into the matter.
As the learners united in song to pay tribute to Moepye, the school’s principal, Lionel Singh, took to the podium, composing himself before addressing the victim’s bereaved family, colleagues and learners.
“I had the esteemed privilege to work with a woman who had a once-in-a-lifetime personality,” he said.
“She was pedantic in her work ethic and never needed to be reminded of her role of duties. She was someone you could always count on to get the work done, but more particularly, her spirit lifted everyone to greater heights.
“Even in her untimely death, she still had a lesson for her learners, especially the young ladies who looked up to her. Choose your friends and partners with great care. We can only pray God gives us the strength to rise above this tragic loss and to strive to live like Madam Moepye.”
Speaking words of encouragement as learners and faculty embraced one another, Father Elijah Mkaronda of the Anglican Church of South Africa urged those mourning Moepye’s death not to dwell on how she had died but rather celebrate the woman they were so fond of.
“You would not be so deeply affected by her passing if she did not exude fundamental qualities that did not have a lasting impact on your lives,” said Mkoronda.
“Her cup was filled with love, compassion and care, which spilt over into your lives. You are responsible for nurturing and sharing those qualities with others, as she so selflessly did.”
Tim Boroto, a representative of the South African Democratic Teachers Union Benoni branch, said that revolution and women’s liberation went hand in hand, with men and women both responsible for holding up the sky.
“Men are not superior to women, yet here we are mourning the life of an influential woman ripped from our midst,” said Boroto.
“Our hearts are broken, but to bring us comfort, we must all vow to become the voices of the women who contribute to building our communities. We must not remain silent in the face of injustice.”
As candles flickered, the learners from Moepye’s tourism class and netball team fought back the tears as they sang, ”Go safely, Kamogelo. You will forever be remembered”.
Moved by the tributes in honour of her daughter, Jacqui Moepye thanked the school and learners for their support, gentle words and love.
“May you never forget the lessons my daughter taught you because it is clear she has touched your lives deeply,” she said.
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