“It’s been a difficult time for us,” lament bereaved families

Families, friends and community members gathered at the Grace Bible church in Carltonville, in Gauteng, to pay their respects to the learners who died in the horrific scholar transport accident.

The pictures of the learners were displayed during the memorial service, which evoked emotions from grieving families.

It was sad scenes as scores of people gathered to support the families who are dealing with the losses of 11 young children.

Ten of the learners attended Rocklands Primary School and one of them was at the Laerskool Blyvooruitsig.

The children were travelling to school in the minibus when a bakkie rear-ended the mini-bus taxi they were travelling in, causing it to overturn and catch fire.

The driver of the scholar transport also lost his life, taking the horror crash’s death toll to 12.

At least eight of the learners in the vehicle survived.

The uncle of the four learners Hlompho, Reneilwe, Thato and Sihle Hlalele says this tragedy has been hard to come to terms with.

Speaking at the memorial service, Aviva Manqa, became emotional whilst describing the heartache that his family has been going through.

Junior Mankofu, Khothatso Sesing, Olesego Khesa, Thandeka Mtylibe, Tshiamo Makinta, Katlego Morebudi, and Reneilwe, Sihle, Hlompho and Thato Hlalele were pupils at Rockland Primary School.

The eleventh pupil was Reabetswe Rabodiba from Blyvooruitsig Laerskool in the Merafong Municipality.

Cries from the floor were heard as Mankofu’s uncle, Sammy Setlhare, took to the stage.

He reminisced on the boy’s dimpled face and mischievous look.

Setlhare urged the community to continue supporting the bereaved families, even beyond the burials.

Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, said the families were robbed of future leaders.

The MEC has been showing his support to the family since the tragedy that took place a day after the beginning of the third term.

 

The bakkie of the driver in the incident is among the survivors and the police have since opened a case of culpable homicide.

Chiloane says the DNA identification process for the 11 children who died in a crash in Carletonville – is almost complete.

Social media users continue to express their condolences to the families.

A memorial service is taking place at Grace Bible Church in Carletonville for 10 students from Rocklands Primary School and 1 student from Laerskool Blyvooruitsig. These learners tragically lost their lives in a school transport accident while en route to school last week. pic.twitter.com/8dJG6LrAhZ

— 2023 AFL Champions & 2023/24 League Champions 🏆🏆 (@maetsebane) July 16, 2024

watching memorial service of those 11 school kids and seeing those innocent smiles in their cute little faces,my heart couldn’t take it 💔😭😭😭

— LUNGI ..EC.. LUSIKISIKI 🇿🇦 (@LungiYou) July 16, 2024

This memorial service 💔💔💔😭😭😭 #ScholarTransportCrash

— Kebosaletse Tlogile (@kebs120) July 16, 2024

I’m watching the memorial service of the children that passed away in the transport crash yesses I’m depressed. The cries 😓😫 God’s will sometimes bafethu

— onthatile (@onthatile_OWN) July 16, 2024

I don’t think it’s a good idea to watch this memorial service 💔 poor babies.

— ⓂⓄⓂⒼⒾⓃⒺⒺⓇ (@ShazzTheMom) July 16, 2024