All seven victims are relatives
Mpho Mokwape | Monday December 15, 2014 17:02
The seven met their untimely death in a fatal accident near Dibete on their way to attend a wedding of their relative in Marobela village. The 16 seater mini bus they were traveling in over-turned after a tyre burst, killing seven while another seven were hospitalised.
The seven victims include 69-year-old Tebogo Letlhatsane, whose two younger sisters, daughter-in- law and a son were also in the accident.
She was buried on Saturday together with her son, 43-year-old Lekgotla Letlhatsane; while her sister, 64-year-old Kefilwe Mokgadi and daughter-in-law, 46-year-old Asenyang Bakokonyane were buried on Friday and Sunday respectively. Her other younger sister, Khumoyame Dingalo, was buried on Sunday. The 69-year-old is survived by six children, eight grand children, one great grand child and four siblings. Her son is survived by three children, and a wife.
Arriving in Thamaga at Nakedi ward on Friday at Letlhatsane homestead, the family was battling with words to describe the tragedy.
32-year-old Kagiso Bakokonyane acted as the family representative and gave us audience as he tried to explain how the family is battling to come to terms with the tragic loss of almost the entire clan.
Bakokonyane is the son to the late Letlhatsane. He is also mourning two aunts and an elder brother.
His sister is among the seven who sustained injuries in the accident and is still hospitalised at Mahalapye. She was unable to attend her mother and brother’s funeral.
“Just as you arrived, we have just returned from burying my aunt and as you can see the mood is still low as we still have more to bury tomorrow and on Sunday,” he said.
Bakokonyane explained that they were the first ones to arrive at the scene on the fateful day of the accident occurred as they were following in a different car.
He said they tried helping those who were trapped in the wrecked mini bus while waiting for the ambulance and the police.
“We arrived and immediately checked who was hurt and we established that four we already dead; two died later and one died on the way to the hospital,” he said.
He said he is still shocked by the tragic loss of his family members and relatives on what should have been the joyful occasion of his brother’s wedding.
Her cousin, Emily Dingalo, the daughter of deceased Baboneng Rantshilwane says she never imagined losing a mother and relatives that way.
“We were all shocked to learn about the passing of so many relatives all at once; it was such a blow to all of us and it would take time to heal,” she said.