Thohoyandou sibling death: ‘He perished in the name of love, protecting his sister’
Hundreds of mourners, including learners of Jim Tshivhonelo Primary School in Muledane outside Thohoyandou, on Saturday paid their last respects to the two siblings who died after falling from a makeshift bridge recently.
LIMPOPO – The service started at the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Muledane and proceeded to the local graveyard where friends of the siblings cried inconsolably.
Read more: Siblings die trying to cross water-filled ditch: Limpopo police to investigate
The Acting Principal of the school, Milingoni Netshiheni described Ntakadzeni Masithi (10) as a respectful boy who was dedicated to his school work.
Mtakadzeni was a Gr 5 learner who participated in various sportings codes.
His sister, Adivhaho (8), a Gr 4 learner, was later buried in Maebane village in Ha-Kutama outside Makhado.
The siblings met their untimely death while on their way to their grandmother, who stays in another section of Muledane. The incident occurred last Saturday.
Speaking at the funeral, the family representative, Nnyambeni Masithi described Ntakadzeni as a valuable family member who loved his younger sister to the extent of sacrificing his own life to save hers.
“He perished in the name of love, protecting his sister, and we also saw her potential of being a promising leader.”
Tobias Fourie, the Managing Director of Limpopo Dairy where, Awelani Masithi, (the father of the deceased siblings) is an employee, said he paid homage to one of his employees after they heard of the tragedy.
“Aluwani is a driver in our company, and the pain he is feeling, also affects us.
“We were happily working on the day of the tragedy, not thinking that we would later have to deal with this type of news. We hope our being at the funeral of his children will make him stronger and better,” said Fourie.
A clearly distraught Masithi said he was still devastated at what happened.
Read more: Thohoyandou sibling death: Social workers dispatched to area to provide support
Limpopo Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said an inquest has been opened following the death of the siblings.
According to information received, the four siblings were walking from one section of Muledane village to the other, when Adivaho fell from the bridge, and plunged into a water-filled ditch.
“Her brother also jumped into the ditch, apparently trying to rescue his sister, but they both perished in the incident.
“The other two siblings then ran home to find help,” Mojapelo said.
The children’s exact cause of death had not yet been established by the time of going to print.
