SEBOKENG – Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Centre to pay respect to the 14 pupils who died when their minibus taxi collided with a side tipper truck on the R553.
On Monday, January 19, a minibus taxi crashed when the driver tried to overtake several vehicles on its way to drop pupils at different schools in Vanderbijlpark.
The community was united in mourning as friends, families and fellow pupils gathered at the multipurpose centre to pay their tributes.
Several government officials, including Gauteng MEC of Education Matome Chiloane, Emfuleni’s mayor Sipho Radebe, Sedibeng’s mayor Lerato Maloka and Midvaal’s mayor Peter Teixiera.
Speaking during the service, families shared stories as they remembered moments of their kids before tragedy occurred.
Ntsebang Maphalla, a cousin to Puleng Maphalla, a Grade 11 pupil at El-Shaddai Christian School, described the deceased as a happy child.
“My cousin was a gift to her family. As tragic as her passing has been, we must remember the joy the deceased brought to us. We are pained. It is an outright murder, and the court agreed to that,” she said.
Taking turns to speak, the Madonsela family shared shocking news when they said Sibongile Madonsela, a Grade 10 pupil at Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark, was very badly injured.
“We thank those who have supported us during these tough times. To those who visited our family to show support, that means a lot. We are hurt that Sibongile has passed. We always pray that God’s will happen in our lives, but when that happens, we struggle to accept it,” said a family member.
“When we went to identify her, she was badly injured. We have decided that we won’t allow any family members to view her at her burial,” added the family representative.
Delivering his eulogy, Chiloane said, “They kissed their mother’s goodbye, they waved to their fathers, carrying their bags filled with books, and their lunchboxes, but never made it to school.”
“At the scene, what we witnessed will haunt us for the rest of our lives. Their shoes, books, bags and unopened lunch boxes, scattered all over,” the MEC said.
“No excuse will make sense to such. Mother’s arms are empty. Father tried to be strong while breaking inside. We mourn and weep, and commit to walk this painful journey beside the families,” Chiloane continued.
