South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal Member of the Executive Council for Education, MEC Mbali Frazer visited the Zikhali family in the KwaJobe area of Jozini. The family has recently lost three young members in an accidental drowning during a vacation.
The victims were students of the Lifakethu High School. The accident happened during a family vacation to Sodwana Bay. The victims drowned while swimming in the Bay.
Two of the children’s bodies were recovered while the third child remains missing till date. The two bodies were buried on Monday February 26, 2024, in Umkhanyakude District.
The Member of the Executive Council for Education visited the family on the day of the burial ceremony. MEC Mbali Frazer extended her condolences on the loss of the family and assured them of her department’s constant support.
The department of Education also shared some images from the visit of the Member of the executive council. These three children were doing grades 8, 9, and 10 in Lifakethu High School.
“We know that words cannot bring them back, especially those that we buried, but we are here to support the family during this difficult time,” said MEC Frazer.
She further told the family that this is also a sad loss to the department. She reasoned that over the course of the educational career of a student, educators and learners become one family.
Therefore, losing a learner’s life equals losing a family member. The family was grateful for the spport extended by the Education department during their time of grief.
The family is devastated by their loss. The members of the community have also extended their solidarity to the grieving loved ones of the young departed souls.
The people of the district have also commended the department of education for reaching out to the family during a difficult time. The education department of KwaZulu Natal makes a deliberate effort to remain connected with their learners and the families.