Joint funeral service for two teens held in Thembisa

The Thembisa community joined the families of Siphamandla Peterson (15) and Sibusiso Sibiya (17) on April 24 to bid farewell to the two teenagers.

The boys were learners at Daveyton Skills School and drowned during a discipline camp at Rock Falls Adventure Ranch in Centurion on April 15.

ALSO READ: Two Thembisa youths drown at discipline camp

The families held a joint funeral ceremony at Rabasotho Community Centre, where the public could attend to pay their last respects.

Siphamandla’s grandmother, Nomusa Mathebula, said the family wants justice for their deaths.

“As a family, we are hurt by how things went during the trip. We addressed our wishes with the MEC of Education during his visit.

“For one person to monitor 90 children on a school trip without any teachers involved is not possible. We want to know what skills the children received during the trip,” she said.

ALSO READ: Follow-up: GDE recommends investigation after two boys drown

“We shift the blame to the school and the principal for such negligence because we were told this is not the first time it has happened. Children from that school often die during school trips,” said Mathebula.

“We will not keep quiet because we are deeply hurt. We demand action, and we want to see people arrested.

Whoever agreed on the location and the trip must be brought to justice because people meant to protect our children are neglecting them.

“We want to see action taken against that school. We still do not know who planned the trip,” added Mathebula.

Malume Kunene, Sibusiso’s uncle, said he was disappointed by the treatment they received from the campsite.

“When we went there as a family, we asked ourselves if this was a place children were permitted to visit. We questioned their safety from the moment we got there.

ALSO READ: Two Thembisa families left devastated after the drowning of two boys

“When we arrived at the exact location where our boys drowned, we found a board with ‘No swimming’ written on it, which was not there in the first place.

“I urge families to be patient and see everything come to fruition. As a family, we are thankful to the Thembisa community for supporting us during this difficult time.”