Tears at burial for two girls run over by taxi

TWO of the three children killed in a collision invo a taxi in Mdantsane last weekend were laid to rest yesterday.

The funeral service of Unabo Lindani, 7, and her 11-year-old sister, Thandolwethu Lindani, got under way shortly after 9am in the Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre. The third victim, Lilitha Mnyanda, 9, will be buried today in Tsholomqa village, East London.

Mourners at the funeral included pupils from Encotsheni Senior Primary School where Thandolwethu was a Grade 5 pupil. The pupils cried as the two coffins were wheeled into the venue.

Speaker after speaker struggled to find words to best describe the two girls whose lives were cut short last Saturday.

“She was very quiet and reserved. While she was at the age of children who draws your attention, Thandolwethu was not like that because she was too quiet,” Thandolwethu’s maths teacher, Nomzamo RumboRumbo, told a crowd of mourners.

Her tribute was followed by farewell messages from just outside Thandolwethu’s 12 classmates.

One after the other they came forward to speak using words such as: “Rest In Peace until we meet again Thandolwethu”.

“We are behind you, please brighten our way Thandolwethu,” one of them said.

A grief-stricken older sister of the deceased girl, Yonela Mjamba, took hold of the microphone and sang a tribute song for her fallen sisters saying: “We will always remember you.”

The two girls were buried at a Fort Jackson cemetery.

Ward 42 councillor Simon Maphuka said the funeral was made possible by business people, including taxi owners.

The three girls were on a Qumza Highway sidewalk selling chocolates and sweets, when