Roosevelt High School is grappling with the grief after learning that three of its former students, sisters Storm, Connor, and Cassidy Moodley, were involved in a serious motor vehicle accident on September 14.

Storm, the only survivor of the crash, is recovering at home and with family, whilst her sisters Connor and Cassidy sadly passed away after the incident.

Principal Cristel Venter described the incident as a devastating loss, not only for the Moodley family, but for the entire school community.

“All the staff remember the Moodley family. It was three daughters and a mum, and they were always one. You saw them as a unit. It wasn’t four separate people – it was one person. The closest family that I’ve seen in a long time.”

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The tragedy has had a profound impact on both staff and alumni. One teacher, who had been a close friend of Connor’s since their matric year, was so overwhelmed with grief on the morning of September 15, that they had to be sent home.

“I carry a piece of them in my heart forever,” Venter added. “Maybe that’s why my heart feels so heavy. Because I carry these pieces of them with me. It’s unfair that they were taken away.”

In a heartfelt tribute, Roosevelt High School remembered Connor and Cassidy as extraordinary young women whose lives brought light to everyone around them.

“The tragic passing of Connor and Cassidy has rocked the school to its very core,” the statement read. “These two remarkable young women were the very definition of sunshine in human form, and their absence has left a void that words can scarcely describe.”

Connor, who attended Roosevelt High from 2015 to 2018, was remembered as mischievous, quick-witted, and fiercely protective of her younger sister, Cassidy.

Teachers recalled her playful energy, from commandeering classroom desks to spending hours building a giant rubber band ball with friends. Yet behind her humour and liveliness, Connor excelled academically and was a natural leader, bringing joy to everyone she encountered.

Cassidy, who attended from 2016 to 2020, was affectionately known as ‘sonskynkind’ by a teacher.

Her warmth and kindness were legendary at the school, with her smile and hugs brightening the days of teachers, classmates, and visitors alike. Cassidy was described as straightforward, eloquent, and deeply compassionate, especially toward children and the elderly.

A mother’s love

In an emotional statement, their mother, Janene Moodley, reflected on the lives and values of her daughters: “They were family people. They were not materialistic, not driven by things, but by relationships and faith. Sundays were sacred.

We would get dressed and go to church together at the Unified Church of the Nazarene. Family time, whether at home, with cousins, or visiting Johannesburg, was central to their joy. Connor and Cassidy were homebodies in the truest sense.

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They enjoyed spending time with family, playing paddle, crocheting, baking, or simply being together. They were magnets, drawing people to them through their warmth, love, and friendliness.”

Moodley described both Connor and Cassidy as strong, direct, and principled, yet deeply loving and approachable.

“We are all huggers in our family. You will always feel welcome in our home or company. That was just who they were.”

Cassidy, in particular, had been completing a Bachelor of Education degree in foundation phase learning and was set to graduate in 2026.

She had already received offers for full-time employment and had plans to move in with her long-time boyfriend, Jordan, with engagement plans in sight.

Her mother described Cassidy as passionate and driven, focused on her career and family, yet grounded in humility and generosity.

Connor and Cassidy’s lives, marked by love, laughter, and devotion to family and community, have left an indelible mark on those who knew them.

Roosevelt High School, and the Moodley family’s extended circle, continue to mourn their loss while celebrating the light they brought into the world.

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