City officials bestowed gifts on the families of the learners whose lives were lost in a car accident that occurred on AZ Berman Drive in Mitchells Plain. The event, organised by Mitchells Plain Sub-Councils 12 and 17, took place at the Khayelitsha Training Centre in Khayelitsha last Thursday.
The accident claimed the lives of five schoolchildren, while two others sustained severe injuries and were promptly rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
The names of the students who died in the accident were Kathlego Banga (8), Linathi Madalane (10) and Rehema Eiman (7), all from Mandela Park; Lwethu McKerry (11) from Harare; and Lelam Betiwe (5) from Makhaza.
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According to the City Vision, Sub-Councils 12 and 17 both contributed unspecified amounts in the form of vouchers, while the mayor’s office provided boutique flowers to the families of the deceased.
MEC for Police Oversight, Safety and Security Reagen Allen, some Khayelitsha ward councillors and the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) were among the dignitaries who attended the event.
Elton Jansen, chair of Mitchells Plain Sub Council 17 and Ward 43 councillor, stated that the gathering was held to demonstrate compassion and unity. He claimed that the two communities (Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain) had been separated for far too long.
‘On behalf of the Mitchells Plain community, we expressed our condolences to the families during this time of bereavement. We may not understand the pain the deceased families feel because our children are still alive, but we are with the affected families. And this is not the time to play party politics; that is why we are together today to show our support to the families,’ said Jansen.
He continued, ‘We made a call to some people because we know that during this difficult time, the last thing you think about is how you are going to cover the funeral expenses. We know that we can’t bring back your children, but we are trying to show respect and solidarity with you,’ said Jansen.
Reagen Allen reportedly urged the two communities to work together. He expressed his hope that the students’ deaths would not be in vain.
Allen described the Khayelitsha community as a resilient one that rises to meet any challenge, according to the City Vision.
‘It is not easy for all of us. But I know the Khayelitsha community will rise up despite any circumstances. Recently, I was in Khayelitsha during the mass killing. I could see that the community of Khayelitsha was feeling the pain, but they were strong and united,’ he said.
He thanked both community leaders for their assistance during this difficult time.
Khayalethu Nethi, secretary of the KDF, thanked Mitchells Plain Sub Councils and the mayor’s office for collaborating with Khayelitsha stakeholders during this difficult time. He stated that KDF and other community stakeholders are still working out how they will assist the deceased families.
‘We didn’t want to organise a memorial service for the sake of organising it. We don’t want to rush. We will wait for the dust to settle and plan thoroughly. We will gather as stakeholders and decide what we can do for the deceased families,’ vowed Nethi.
Nethi reportedly promised that the KDF would also support and assist families who had already buried their children.
Mildrad Mdukiswa of Mandela Park spoke on behalf of the families of the deceased, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support from both communities. She stated that they had no expectations from anyone.
‘On my side, I’m a bit relieved, even though I know that my child will never come back. But with the huge support that we are getting from the communities on a daily basis, we become stronger,’ said Mdukiswa.
Mdukiswa thanked everyone who had been a source of support, including their church and community members, and added that her son, Kathlego Banga, was buried in Mandela Park on Wednesday, 7 May.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the accident, a 55-year-old man, has been charged with culpable homicide and will appear in Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 15 June.
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Picture: Cllr. Elton Jansen – Ward 43 / Facebook