The community of Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape is mourning the tragic death of a Grade 11 learner, Amanda Notununu, from Luthubeni Secondary School. Amanda sadly lost her life after drowning while crossing a river with other learners on their way to school earlier this week.
According to reports from local community members, Amanda and a group of fellow learners were making their usual journey to school when the tragedy occurred. The group attempted to cross a local river, which had become dangerously swollen due to recent heavy rains in the area. Unfortunately, Amanda was swept away by the strong currents and drowned.
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This heart-wrenching incident has left Amanda’s family, schoolmates, teachers, and the wider Mqanduli community in shock and grief. Amanda was described as a bright and hardworking learner with a promising future ahead of her. Her teachers and classmates remember her as a respectful, dedicated student who was passionate about her education and always eager to learn.
Many community members have expressed frustration and concern over the ongoing dangers that learners in rural areas face while trying to access education. In Mqanduli and other parts of the Eastern Cape, children often walk long distances to school and are forced to cross rivers, climb steep hills, or navigate through unsafe terrain just to get an education. The lack of basic infrastructure, such as safe bridges, is a challenge that rural communities have been grappling with for years.
Amanda’s death has sparked renewed calls for the government and relevant authorities to urgently address these challenges and prioritize the safety of learners. Parents and community leaders are pleading for the construction of safe bridges and proper roads to ensure that no other child loses their life in pursuit of an education.
“We have been raising this issue for years,” said one community elder. “Our children are dying because there are no bridges. How many more lives must we lose before something is done?”
Amanda’s funeral will be held on Saturday, and the community is expected to gather in large numbers to pay their final respects. Messages of condolence and support have been pouring in for the family during this difficult time. Many have taken to social media to share their heartbreak and call for change.
As the community prepares to lay Amanda to rest, there is a strong sense of anger and sadness mixed with a determination to ensure that her death was not in vain. Community members are organizing meetings and discussions on how they can push for better infrastructure and safety measures for their children.
Amanda Notununu’s tragic passing serves as a painful reminder of the daily risks faced by learners in rural areas. It is a call to action for the government and society as a whole to prioritize the safety and well-being of all children, ensuring that no learner has to risk their life just to access education.
