SowetanLIVE last week reported that the Hlaleles were using the taxi for the first time, after their old one was ditched for making them late, when the accident took place.
Photos of the Hlalele cousins and seven other victims – Thandeka Mtyilibe, 9, Reabetswe Rabodiba, 7, Katlego Morebudi, 12, Junior Mankofu, 13, Tshiamo Makinta, 9, Khothatso Sesing, 9, and Olesego Khesa, 12 – had white candles placed next to them to symbolise their lives.
Deputy mayor of Merafong municipality, Mogomotsi Sello, paid tribute to the scholar transport driver Nkosinathi Maphukade who also perished when the bakkie rammed into his taxi last Wednesday.
"The driver, who was affectionately known as Nathi, was a valuable member of our community, who also helped on weekends to bury our people. We will send a delegation to go support the family as he will be buried in the Eastern Cape," Sello said.
Sammy Setlhare who spoke on behalf of the Morebudi and Mankofu families said: "He [Junior] was a young man with a beauty-spot like a girl, and dimples.
"Even when he was naughty, you just look at him and smile. To all families who lost their children, we say condolences. I would like to urge all the spiritual leaders to support and pray for the families because after this, we are going to need prayers the most. Please be with us through this journey, " Setlhare said.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane said one child was still in hospital.
"We are optimistic that the child will recover. Most of the injuries are on the lower body, they are monitoring him very closely. The DNA [testing] has been done, and they have managed to identify which child is which child, but there's still some investigations that need to be done. The advice is that families should halt a bit with funeral preparations," he said.
Grief-stricken mourners receive help at memorial of 11 pupils
The children died in road accident on the way to school
Melodic gospel hymns echoed inside Grace Bible Church in Carletonville on the West Rand, as the community of Fochville gathered to pay tribute to the 11 pupils who perished during a private scholar transport accident last week.
Hymns such as Be Still and Know That I am the Lord and Joko ya Hao set the tone for an outpouring of emotions, not only from grieving family members but members of the public who came to support the families as well.
Personnel from emergency services, social workers and psychologist had their hands full as they attended to those wailing uncontrollably, with overwhelmed family members being carried outside on stretchers and wheelchairs.
"What do you say when your child has passed on? You cry. But what do you say when [not only] two children, or three children... What do you say when you have lost four children," said Aviva Manqa who spoke on behalf of the Hlalele family who lost four children. Reneilwe, 7, Hlompho, 10, Thato, 8, and 12-year-old Sihle Hlalele were cousins.
SowetanLIVE last week reported that the Hlaleles were using the taxi for the first time, after their old one was ditched for making them late, when the accident took place.
Photos of the Hlalele cousins and seven other victims – Thandeka Mtyilibe, 9, Reabetswe Rabodiba, 7, Katlego Morebudi, 12, Junior Mankofu, 13, Tshiamo Makinta, 9, Khothatso Sesing, 9, and Olesego Khesa, 12 – had white candles placed next to them to symbolise their lives.
Deputy mayor of Merafong municipality, Mogomotsi Sello, paid tribute to the scholar transport driver Nkosinathi Maphukade who also perished when the bakkie rammed into his taxi last Wednesday.
"The driver, who was affectionately known as Nathi, was a valuable member of our community, who also helped on weekends to bury our people. We will send a delegation to go support the family as he will be buried in the Eastern Cape," Sello said.
Sammy Setlhare who spoke on behalf of the Morebudi and Mankofu families said: "He [Junior] was a young man with a beauty-spot like a girl, and dimples.
"Even when he was naughty, you just look at him and smile. To all families who lost their children, we say condolences. I would like to urge all the spiritual leaders to support and pray for the families because after this, we are going to need prayers the most. Please be with us through this journey, " Setlhare said.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane said one child was still in hospital.
"We are optimistic that the child will recover. Most of the injuries are on the lower body, they are monitoring him very closely. The DNA [testing] has been done, and they have managed to identify which child is which child, but there's still some investigations that need to be done. The advice is that families should halt a bit with funeral preparations," he said.