The funeral service of nine-year-old Lindokuhle Mabaso is currently under way at the Matlwangtlwang Secondary School Hall in the Free State, as grieving family members, classmates, teachers, and community members come together to bid farewell to a young life taken far too soon. Lindokuhle is one of the 14 learners who lost their lives in a devastating road accident last week Monday, when the scholar minibus taxi they were travelling in collided head-on with a truck on their way to school in Vanderbijlpark.
The atmosphere at the hall is heavy with sorrow, as mourners dressed in black and school uniforms fill the venue, many struggling to hold back tears. Photographs of Lindokuhle, smiling brightly in her school attire, have been placed near the front of the hall, serving as a painful reminder of the innocence and promise that was lost in the tragedy. Hymns and prayers echo through the hall as family members and community leaders offer words of comfort and strength to those left behind.
According to earlier reports, the learners were travelling to school when the fatal crash occurred, sending shockwaves through communities in both the Free State and Gauteng. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the impact of the collision proved catastrophic. Fourteen learners lost their lives, while several others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing concerns around road safety and the transportation of schoolchildren across the country.
Lindokuhle’s family described her as a cheerful and caring child who loved going to school and dreamed of becoming a teacher one day. Relatives say she was always eager to help others and brought joy to everyone around her. Her death has left a deep void in the hearts of her parents, siblings, and extended family, who now face the painful task of learning to live without her.
At the funeral service, teachers from Lindokuhle’s school spoke about her dedication in class and her bright spirit, saying she was a learner who showed great potential despite her young age. Classmates, some still too young to fully understand the finality of death, sat quietly alongside their parents, many clutching tissues and comforting one another.
Community leaders used the occasion to call for renewed efforts to improve road safety and ensure that children are transported in safer conditions. They stressed that no family should have to endure the pain of losing a child in such a preventable manner. The tragedy has sparked renewed conversations about the condition of roads, the safety of scholar transport vehicles, and the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
As Lindokuhle is laid to rest, she is remembered not only as one of the victims of a horrific accident, but as a beloved daughter, friend, and learner whose life, though short, touched many. The community’s collective grief stands as a powerful reminder of the human cost of road accidents and the urgent need to protect the country’s most vulnerable road users—its children.