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Students in high spirits before fatal car crash

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

Six of nine students - believed to have been returning from a YFM party - died after the car they were travelling in crashed.

Crammed into a Golf 4, the nine were apparently in high spirits when the driver lost control of the car and hit an embankment on the M1 near Braamfontein, in Johannesburg, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Four of the students died at the scene when they were flung out of the car. Another two died in hospital.

Unconfirmed reports said one of the pupils broke both legs while another was unconscious.

"We are not sure where they were coming from but we believe they were returning from the YFM party held in Rosebank," said Yoliswa Mkwanazi, mother of Happiness who died at the scene.

She said her daughter, who had been chosen by her school to model Edgars and Woolworths clothes, left home to attend a function at Mondeor High School where YFM DJs were playing.

She sent an SMS to her father, Themba Mkwanazi, saying they were going to another party but she was not sure as to its whereabouts.

"I did not feel good when she left home," said Yoliswa Mkwanazi. She described her daughter as a people's person.

Ouma Tsame said she was devastated by the death of her son.

"I'll miss taking him to school every morning," she said.

Tsame said her son, Cyril, left home with old clothes saying he was taking them to a function organised by the youth radio station.

Families of the children who died held a meeting at the Mkwanazis home in Oakdene, where it was decided there would be a mass funeral.

"They were friends and died together so why should we separate them now?" asked Blondi Nkabinde, whose grandson, Linda, died at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital on Sunday.

The names of the dead students are: Happiness Mkwanazi 19, a Grade 11 pupil at Glenvista High School.

Cyril Tsame, 19, a Grade 11 pupil at Forest Hill High School.

Linda Nkabinde 19, a student at Varsity College.

Katlego Mikateko, 20, a grade 12 student at Damelin college.

Percy Nyovane, 20, and Nkoka Maluleka, 17, were Grade 12 students at Westridge High.

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