Emotional farewell for slain Inxiweni Primary principal Ruth Tabu
Tabu’s brother, Benjamin Tabu, struggled to hold back his tears as he spoke about the pain of losing his sister so violently.
A sombre mood and piercing cries filled the packed auditorium at Oasis of Life Family Church in Daveyton on November 29.
Learners, educators, friends and family gathered to honour the life of slain Inxiweni Primary School principal Ruth Nozibele Tabu (58).
Tabu lived in Daveyton and served as the principal of Inxiweni Primary School in Thembisa. She was fatally shot alongside administration clerk Nobantu Njomboni (55) inside the school’s administration block.
According to the Gauteng Department of Education, the shooting occurred at around 17:00. The principal, an administrator, and other staff members were preparing for a meeting scheduled for later in the week.
A 26-year-old Inxiweni Primary School employee, Mokgadi Hope Shongwe, and her co-accused, Tuki Benjamin Maditsi (35), have since been arrested in connection with the double murder.
Various speakers who took to the podium described Tabu, affectionately known as “Nomsa”, as a go-getter, a people’s person, a natural leader, and a beacon of hope within the community.
Her cousin, Nombulelo, said the brutal and senseless killing had left the family shattered and deeply wounded.
@benonicitytimes The funeral service of Inxiweni Primary principal Ruth Nozibele Tabu, 58 — who was shot dead along with her colleague inside the school’s administration block last Tuesday evening in Tembisa is underway at Oasis Family Church in Daveyton.
“This loss should never have happened. We are not only grieving as a family, but we are also carrying a wound cut by betrayal and the complete failure of humanity,” she said.
Tabu’s brother, Benjamin Tabu, struggled to hold back his tears as he spoke about the pain of losing his sister so violently.
“The most painful part is the brutal way in which she died. It would have been easier if she was sick; we could have sought medical intervention.”
“When she left for work that day, we all believed she would return home. Instead, the family received the devastating news,” he said.
He added that despite joking in their youth that she did not enjoy school because of long travelling distances, she grew to love education and was known for her love of order and organisation at home.
Neighbour Bongani Sepang offered words of comfort to Tabu’s two children, Hazel and Vuyo.
“Life is ruthless, and it forces you to grow up. Please grow up. We are here as neighbours; don’t do life alone. People grieve differently. You must learn to tolerate and support one another,” he said.
Tabu’s daughter, Hazel, described her mother as her pillar of strength and source of unconditional love.
“I will miss our mommy-and-daughter days, and you asking me to take pictures of you almost every minute when we were out. You were my safe space, my teacher, my support system and my prayer warrior. You held me when I cried and believed in me when I didn’t,” she said.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the province gathered not only to also mourn a death but to confront a deep wound inflicted on society.
“This is a violation so fundamental that it shakes the foundation of what we hold sacred. To the Tabu family, I see your tears, and I feel your anger. I share your incomprehension at how a woman who gave life to so many had her own life stolen with such brutality. I make a solemn vow that Ruth’s death will not be in vain; we will not bury her legacy with her,” he said.
About Ruth Tabu
Tabu was born on May 15, 1967, in Daveyton and was the second-born child in her family. She matriculated in 1987 and later pursued teaching qualifications. She began her teaching career at Inxiweni Primary School in 1992. In 2009, she was promoted to deputy principal. She became principal in 2012, a position she held with dedication until her death.
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