At the same time that the community of Riebeeckstad High School is struggling to cope with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss, a memorial service is currently being held to honor the memory of six young lives that were tragically cut short in a bus accident with devastating consequences near Senekal.
A Heartbreaking Incident
Beginning at eleven o’clock on February 15, 2024, the memorial service will be held at Kingdom Ministries in Dagbreek, Welkom. It will serve as a solemn gathering for family members, friends, and members of the wider community to express their sorrow over the untimely passing of the eighth-grade participants.
The Victims of the Tragedy
The tragic bus accident claimed the lives of a number of young people, including Oagile Gailele, who was thirteen years old, Lerato Keketsi, who was also thirteen, Blessing Makansela, who was thirteen, Tlotlisang Mokotjo, who was thirteen, Relebohile Nteo, who was fourteen, and Katleho Semelo, who was thirteen.
The Circumstances Unfolded
Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana revealed that the accident, which took place on the R70 Ventersburg–Senekal road, took place when the bus that was carrying approximately 58 students flipped over approximately 30 kilometers away from Ventersburg. Moolmanshoek, which is located close to Rosendal, was the location of an all-girls sporting event that the learners were returning from.
The Aftermath of the Tragedy
As a result of the accident, a total of fifty-two students were hurt, which casts a negative light on what ought to have been a joyful return from the sporting event. This tragic number included six students who were pronounced dead at the scene, forty students who sustained minor injuries, eight students who sustained moderate injuries, and four students who sustained severe injuries. Everyone who was hurt was rushed to hospitals in Welkom and Senekal as quickly as possible so that they could receive medical attention.
A Province in Mourning
Premier Dukwana has expressed his deepest condolences, saying, “This tragedy struck while we were busy celebrating the success of the people who graduated from the matriculation class of 2023.” The passing of those souls has deprived us of the opportunity to shape the future of our province. In the heartfelt message, condolences were extended to the families of the deceased, and the injured were wished a speedy recovery during the message.
National Condolences – Minister Motshekga Speaks Out
While the nation was in mourning, the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, extended her most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the students who had passed away. Riebeeckstad Hoërskool students were being transported on the bus when it overturned due to a loose wheel and the driver losing control of the vehicle. This tragic event occurred when the bus was transporting students.
Investigation and Hope for Answers
Despite his sadness, Minister Motshekga expressed his hope that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted in order to shed light on the circumstances that led up to the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have passed away. After their children have participated in a school excursion, this is not the kind of information that any parent can anticipate hearing from their children. We have high hopes that the results of the investigation will shed some light on what took place,” she put it.
A Nation Mourns Together
The community of Riebeeckstad High School is mourning alongside the rest of the nation as the memorial service continues. The unexpected death of six young people serves as a stark reminder of the precarious nature of life, which in turn prompts introspection and a sense of collective sorrow. During this time of mourning, the community comes together to remember and pay tribute to the lives that were cut short far too soon.
