Meth shares pain of her loss
“I just pray to God that He receives them. If indeed there is a place called Heaven, these two won’t miss it.”
These were the words of OR Tambo district municipality mayor Nomakhosazana Meth, who shared her pain at losing two sons in a tragic accident just days into the new year.
Bradley Meth, 18, and Ndipheleke Diko, 21, were involved in a crash on a sharp bend on the N2 between Payne location and Ultra City near Mthatha on January 5.
The boys had been travelling with their cousin and a friend in a double-cab bakkie when they crashed.
Bradley and Ndipheleke were killed and the two others were treated and discharged from hospital after sustaining minor injuries.
Meth said the boys, whom she described as “sweet little angels”, had died just hours after the family celebrated their matric passes with a lunch in East London.
Bradley, who was the mayor’s last-born, matriculated from Khanyisa Senior Secondary School and Ndipheleke, whom Meth had raised from the age of seven when his parents died, matriculated from Mthatha College.
Ndipheleke was her brother’s son.
“More than being an aunt to him, I was in fact a mother and father. I raised him as my own son. I thank God for the beautiful lives.
“He has given us 18 years with Bradley and 21 years with Ndipheleke. My sons were sweet, they were just like light.”
She is now preparing to bury her boys at Emaweleni village in Qwewe near Mthatha on Friday. The funeral will commence at 9am.
“On my birthday on December 20, Bradley bought me beautiful flowers and a small gift bag containing a set of a watch, necklace and earrings.
“That I will never forget, I will forever treasure it. I miss my boys very much. At times it seems it is just a bad dream,” Meth said. She said the deaths were difficult to comprehend, but she had had overwhelming support from across the country.
“I received many calls, and one of them was from President Cyril Ramaphosa personally.
“Since the tragic news I have received calls and messages and visits from kings and queens, bishops and church leaders, denominations, business leaders, politicians, government and municipal leaders as well as ordinary people.
“Without the support I could not have managed.”
Meth said Bradley had wanted to study architecture and Ndipheleke civil engineering.
She said her 16-year-old granddaughter was being treated for shock.
“In my kind of work I hardly have time with my children.
“Hence I made a point that on New Year’s Day I gave them enough time.
“I was planning that this month I would have enough time with them.” –