South Africa: The Premier of the Free State province, Sefora Ntombela, joined throngs of Petsana for the funeral service of four children who died on Wednesday, 26 October 2022.
The children, aged between 2 and 4, were found dead in an old car in which they had been playing in. The children had been left under the care of their elderly grandmother, who raised the alarm when she could not find the children. The deceased children are Lesedi Mnguni (3), Jwalane Goodness (3), Lerato Donald Tshabalala (2) and Mojalefa Mokoena (4). Mnguni and Jwalane are cousins as are Tshabalala and Mokoena.
Premier Ntombela said she was extremely saddened by the incident and conveyed her condolences to the affected families.
Furthermore, she committed that a new community hall would be built in Petsana in remembrance of the four during the next financial year. Gender-Based Violence remains a thorny issue which has continued to plague our society, and the Premier firmly condemns acts of this nature wherever they occur and encourages communities to take a stand to isolate perpetrators until GBV is extinguished.
“The tragedy which befell the families is difficult to fathom and undoubtedly unbearable to them. To lose a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, and I can only imagine what they are going through. I call upon all the people of our province to keep their families in our prayers as they come to terms with this devastation. We wish them strength during this difficult time, and may God’s love and mercy shine on them,” Premier Ntombela said.
