Parents tell of grief after Ballito crash
RISHI Shampersad and his wife Cookie were excited that their 14year-old daughter Saisha was arriving home after a two-day school excursion.
But when their minibus was delayed, the 46-year-old businessman, who was waiting for his daughter at her school, Victory Christian Academy in La Lucia, became worried.
What he was told sent him into a “tantrum”, he said.
“As I walked into the office I was greeted by a teacher and told, ‘unfortunately your child is dead’.”
The devastation and utter despair the Shampersads feel are echoed among the loved ones of three other Academy girls who perished in the horror accident on the R102 near Compensation on Friday. Their minibus was involved in a collision with an articulated truck.
The other pupils killed were Tamia Mooroogasen, 13, Caitlyn Oliver, 14, and Andrea Micheala Thaver, 17.
“Two pupils were flung out of the minibus; they were declared dead on scene. The other two girls were still trapped in the vehicle and died shortly after being extricated using Jaws of Life,” said Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha.
“One person who was in a serious condition was transported to hospital. The rest of the pupils sustained minor to serious injuries.”
Victory Christian Academy vice-principal Alison Hadfield said 30 pupils and four teachers had been attending a leadership camp in the Ballito area.
Rishi said when he asked the teacher where he could find his beloved daughter, he was told her body was at Stanger Mortuary. “Words failed me and I broke down.”
He said he contacted his in-laws who went to deliver the news to his wife. “I don’t even know how I drove home.
“After arriving at the office I went to the mortuary and looked at Saisha. She was hurt so badly, it was the most painful thing for me to see,” said a tearful Rishi.
Speaking from his Verulam home on Monday, Rishi told POST that the manner in which the message was delivered to him was unbelievable.
His wife Cookie, 44, said she could not believe that her daughter had died.
“Out of all my kids she was the strongest. I was literally screaming and crying when I heard, and called my eldest daughter and son to tell them what I had heard. I couldn’t believe that it was true.”
Sitting on the lounge floor and gazing at pictures of their daughter, the Shampersads said Saisha was thrilled to be going on the leadership camp on the North Coast.
“I was hesitant to send her but she convinced me and was excited to go,” said Rishi.
“My last memory of her was telling her to keep her cellphone on so that I could contact her. However, there was no signal and we did not speak to her since Wednesday. You can only imagine how anxious we were for her to arrive home.”
Cookie described her daughter as a “diva” who loved life and people. “She was the live wire in our home. The morning before the excursion I told her that the purple lipstick she was wearing wasn’t nice. She did a twist and turn and told me she is a diva. She was always full of drama.”
She added that while she mourned the loss of her daughter, she was grateful that Saisha had re-dedicated her life to Jesus Christ. “I know that she is in good hands.”
Cookie said that according to a teacher, Saisha had been praying when she died. “He was holding her in his arms and then she released.”
Saisha was buried at the Tongaat Cemetery on Sunday.
Hadfield refused to comment on Rishi’s allegations.
“I don’t think that it is appropriate. We are a community/family that is grieving the loss of four pupil and that is as much information as we can provide.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners gathered at the funeral service for Andrea, which was held at the school on Monday.
She was described in her obituary as a person who loved people and was able to see the best in everyone.
Tamia Mooroogasen, 13, was described by her aunt, Melissa Chetty, as the most loving, caring and energetic person.
“Every good word that you can think of, that’s my niece.”
Chetty was speaking to POST on Monday, a day after Tamia was buried at the Mobeni Heights Cemetery.
“Tamia loved school. She was excited about the leadership camp, but she loved the Lord and was a deeply spiritual person,” she said. “Our family takes strength that she is in a better place.”
Chetty said it was Tamia’s mother Michelle, 40, who arrived at the school on Friday and found out the dreaded news.
“Both her parents (dad Gonsa, a taxi owner) and sister Tiana are taking comfort from God. Tiana, 12, is not taking the news well. The girls were very close and she followed in her sister’s footsteps.”
Trisha Chetty, a pharmacist whose daughter Tiffany, 18, survived the crash, said her heart went out to parents who lost their children.
She told POST she had received a call from another pupil informing her of the tragedy.
Tiffany’s twin sister Tillany also attends the school but did not go on the leadership course.
“After the accident Tiffany managed to climb out of the bus (and) a fellow pupil helped her contact us,” said Chetty. “He said my daughter was fine but he was not sure about the other kids.
“I was so worried, there was no cellphone reception since they left and I hadn’t spoken to Tiffany since Wednesday.”
She said she was grateful “God spared her life”.
“Whatever Tiffany’s purpose is, she must fulfil it. It is very difficult for the other parents and we have been supporting them.”
Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed a case of culpable homicide had been opened at uMhlali SAPS.
“The driver was also taken to hospital for medical attention. No arrest has been made.”
KwaZulu-Natal Education MECPeggy Nkonyeni said: “As a Department we are saddened by this accident and untimely death of young pupils. We send our condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to all those in hospital.”