The community of Parys is grieving the sudden and tragic loss of 49 year old Agnes (Mpe) Mofokeng, a dedicated member of the Ngwathe Fire and Rescue Service, who passed away following a fatal car accident in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The accident occurred at approximately 05:15 on the R59 near Valtrac, when the vehicle in which she was travelling as a passenger collided with a truck. Agnes was rushed to the Emfuleni MediClinic but sadly succumbed to her injuries on her way to hospital.

The driver of the vehicle was transported from the scene for emergency medical treatment, while the truck driver was not injured.

Agnes had served the Ngwathe Fire and Rescue Service for a decade, earning deep respect for her unwavering dedication. Initially involved on the front lines of emergency scenes, she later became a control room attendant, where her calm voice and firm guidance became familiar to many residents in times of crisis.

“She was well known by the public for her loyalty and dedication towards her job, not only in the control room but also out in the field during her earlier years,” said Maggy Mkhwane, a close colleague and RIMS Steering Committee member.

Madile Masilo, who worked alongside her for the past ten years will remember her as a dear friend, a shoulder you could cry on, humble, and a lady with integrity. “She was everything to me — a darling who would help you even when she had nothing,” Masilo said.

Her kindness and generosity extended beyond her professional life. Thembile Botya, a family member, described her as “a down-to-earth person, always willing to assist.” Apart from her work, she had a talent for baking, he said.

Agnes leaves behind her three children, aged 13, 22 and 34, her mother and sisters, and the team at Ngwathe Fire and Rescue Service.

Her loss is deeply felt across the community she served.

*Agnes’ death follow less than a month after two members of the Ngwathe Local Municipality’s Fire & Rescue Service were injured in an accident on the R59 between Parys and Vredefort on their way to a fire scene, when the Land Cruiser they were travelling with, hit a cow on the road in the dark.