Sobbing reverberated through the Portlands Indoor Centre in Mitchells Plain where a memorial service was held for one of the five pupils who died in a bakkie crash last week.
The five learners have now been identified as Lelam Betiwe, 5; Katlego Banga, 8; Lathitha Eiman, 9; Linathi Madalana, 12; and 11-year-old Lwethi Mckerry.
The pupils, who are all from Khayelitsha, were on their way to school when the accident occurred on A Z Berman Drive on May 30.
Driver Mninikhaya Mvuli allegedly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a tree and robot, causing the children to be flung from the Toyota Hilux bakkie.
The 56-year-old pastor briefly appeared in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday where he indicated that he would be applying for bail.
An hour after the case was postponed, a memorial service was held for eight-year-old Katlego.
The hall quickly filled to capacity as Katlego’s family, friends, classmates and the rest of the school community took their seats.
Wespoort Primary School principal, Malika Ismail-Meyer broke down while speaking about the young boy who she described as “very helpful and always cheerful”.
“Those hugs, I will miss those tight hugs. We will miss him, we already do.”
Ismail-Meyer said Katlego’s death deeply affected the school.
“This pain is immeasurable, he crept into so many hearts in the short time he was with us, he truly did.”
While Ismail-Meyer was speaking, heartbreaking cries could be heard coming from the little boy’s classmates.
His sister had to be comforted after she broke down in the hall.
The boy’s Grade 2 teacher Britany Bergstedt said Katlego was a generous child with a big heart.
“Katlego was such a helpful and caring child that he would keep his bread during the first break and check who of his friends didn't have lunch, then during the second interval, he would call that friend and share his bread, that’s the type of big heart he had,” Bergstedt said.
“He was so helpful that as tiny as he was, he would offer to carry a heavy bag to class every day, and he did it with a smile,” she said.
Katlego’s Grade 1 teacher Nasreen Abdullah also spoke about Katlego’s sense of humour.
“He could make you laugh out of your belly, looking for a pencil to sharpen at the bin just to talk and hear how you are, asking to go to the toilet 10 times just to run a bit, he was a cheerful child, and one thing he could do was dance! He was a joy to have in the class.”
At the end of the service, Katlego’s classmates released white balloons into the sky, whispering goodbye as they were carried by the wind.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the parents of the five deceased learners will for the first time gather for a mass memorial for their children.
However, the Western Cape Education Department, who is organising the event at an undisclosed location, said the service will be a private affair, not open to the general public or the media.
Daily Voice