More than a thousand mourners gathered under one roof in Sebokeng, in the Vaal on Friday, to bid a heartbreaking farewell to the 14 learners who lost their lives when the scholar transport they were travelling in collided with a truck on Monday in Vanderbijlpark.
The memorial service brought together grieving families, friends, community members, and political leaders, including Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane and former ANC Gauteng Secretary-General TK Nciza, all united by pain and loss.
From the moment the service began, the atmosphere was heavy with grief. Emotional hymns filled the hall as mourners sang in an effort to comfort families whose lives have been shattered. Religious leaders offered prayers and words of hope, reminding families they were not alone in their suffering.
One by one, families stepped forward to pay tribute to the children whose lives were cut short.
The family of Grade 10 learner Sibongile Madonsela from Vanderbijlpark Hoërskool were among the first to speak. Fighting back tears, a family member described the pain of losing their only child.
“We are still in pain for losing our child,” she said.
“But we cannot argue with God. When we pray, we say His will must be done — but sometimes when that will happens, it hurts us deeply.”
Sibongile was her mother’s only child.
Tears flowed freely as Buhle Radebe’s grandmother took the podium, her voice trembling with grief.
“I expected my grandchild to bury me, not the other way around,” she said.
“Can you imagine seeing the lifeless body of your child lying in the street? It is very painful. It never crossed my mind that one day I would be standing here speaking about my grandchild’s death.”
She described Buhle, a Grade 11 learner at Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark, as a loving child filled with talent.
“She was good at cooking and matching outfits. If she were alive today, I probably wouldn’t be wearing this — she always chose what I should wear,” she said softly.
“She was also a teacher among her peers.”
Hope briefly flickered for the family of Thato Moetjie, a Grade 12 learner at Vanderbijlpark Hoërskool, who initially survived the crash.
Her aunt, Ntswaki Mokoena, said the family believed Thato would pull through.
“She didn’t die at the scene,” Mokoena said.
“She was airlifted from Sebokeng Hospital to a private hospital. We hoped her operation would be successful, but we were devastated when we were told she passed away yesterday.”
For the family of Letlotlo Makwe, the pain was compounded by how they learned of her death.
They said they received the devastating news through social media.
Letlotlo was just a Grade 2 learner at Vaal Triangle Primary School and the only child of her mother.
