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A joint memorial service was held on Tuesday at the Grace Bible Church in Carletonville, to celebrate the lives of the 11 children who died in a car crash on Wednesday morning while they were being transported to school.
(The Post News)- On Tuesday, July 16, the community of Carltonville held a joint memorial service at the Grace Bible Church in honour of the 11 pupils who died in a car crash a week ago.
The driver of the minibus died along with the 11 pupils, and eight more pupils were rushed to the hospital. Of the eight, only one remains hospitalised.
This tragic accident left the Hlalele family mourning four of their children: Sihle Hlalele (12), Hlompho Hlalele (11), Thato Hlalele (8), and Reneilwe Hlalele (7).
The four Hlalele cousins, together with Junior Mankofu (13), Katlego Morebudi (12), Olesego Khesa (12), Tshiamo Makinta (9), Thandeka Mtyibe (9), Lethabo Sesing (9), and Reabetswe Rabodiba (7), were on their way to school on Wednesday morning, July 10, when a bakkie allegedly hit their minibus from the back, causing it to overturn and catch fire.
Addressing the grieving on behalf of the Hlalele family, Aviva Manqa expressed that losing four children has been weighing heavy on the Hlalele family, but they trust that God will carry them through this rough patch.
“When your child has died, you cry. But what do you do when you have lost two, three, or four children? said Manqa.
Manqa expressed gratitude to the community of Merafong, the authorities, and the residents of Gauteng at large for their support.
The house of the Grace Bible Church was filled with tears of sorrow as speakers spoke so lovingly of the deceased children, one after another, while their families sobbed uncontrollably.
Absent from the memorial service were the parents of Rabodiba, the youngest victim of the accident and the only pupil in Grade 1 at Laerskool Blyvooruitsig; however, they did send someone to represent them.
According to the family representative, the loss of Rabodiba had profoundly affected everyone in the family, even Rabodiba’s brother, who went to school with her and survived the accident.
The family representative explained that Rabodiba’s parents were unable to attend the memorial service due to the pain they were currently experiencing.
The representative added that Rabodiba’s brother is not well, and even though he is only 12 years old, this traumatic experience will always be a part of him, as will his parents.
Speaking on behalf of the South African Principals Association, Julia Hlahle urged the government to reconsider its choices regarding the location of schools, highlighting the necessity for pupils, even the young ones, to commute as if they were going to work.
Hlahle said that they had Greta’s expectations for the lives of the deceased children, and they were eager to watch them grow and make a positive impact on their township.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, was also present at the memorial service, and he stated that it was not a good day as they assembled with aching hearts to remember the wonderful lives of the 11 children stolen too soon.
He gave thanks to the church for consistently assisting the government by providing services, consolation, prayers, and time to the relatives of the deceased.
Moreover, he thanked the community leaders who provided support to the affected families over the course of the week since the day of the accident.
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