Two pupils from Cebe in Centane, Lindokuhle Komani (19), and Qiqa Tywaku (15), died on Thursday of last week while attempting to cross a bridge from their school, Ncedisizwe Senior Secondary School.
The pupils were reportedly dismissed from school by their principal due to the heavy downpour because the principal feared the pupils would become trapped and unable to cross the river to get home.
Unfortunately, when the pupils got there, the river was already overflowing. Komani and Tywaku were unlucky since they drowned while the other pupils traveling with them survived and reported to the village.
The local headman, Zingisa Nonxuba, said people were surprised because the rain did not appear to be capable of even taking lives when it first began.
According to a report, the pupils were discovered in the afternoon, the residents having nearly given up on the hunt. They were located on different sides but not too far apart.
A memorial service for them was held on Wednesday at the school in Ncedisizwe.
Tywaku was in Grade 8 and Komani was in Grade 11.
This is a tragedy that has to be remembered, according to Petros Majola of the Khula Community Development Project, who was one of those in charge of leading the memorial service for the victims.
“Let them rest in peace; I do not want to speculate as to why they did not turn around when they realised the river was overflowing because bad luck is invisible on the day of doom. They were unaware that death had arrived,” Majola stated.
To deal with such circumstances, Majola suggested that e-learning be taken into consideration. On days like this, he believes that such tools can help children study at home.
Fundile Gade, the Eastern Cape’s MEC for Education, extended his condolences to the victims’ families.
Gade urged the department to send social workers to talk to the children, particularly the ones who were in the river with the victims.
A case has been opened by the provincial police over the occurrence.
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