“I really miss her. Sleeping alone, seeing her teddies on the bed and her not here, is too much. Waking up in the morning is hard. We sang together every day. She relied on me and I relied on her and when something would bother her, she would tell me, whether it was something that happened at school or how she felt. She was very outspoken.”
These are the heartbreaking words of 16-year-old Gosiame Mavimbela, whose sister Gomolemo Mavimbela, 9, was killed in a horrific accident involving PSL soccer player Shaun Mogaila on Wednesday.
Mogaila’s BMW M2 was caught on dashcam footage jumping a barrier and slamming head-on into a Hyundai Grand i10 on Andrew Mapheto Road in Thembisa. He fled the scene after the accident, but later handed himself over to the police.
Gomolemo died instantly. Her mother Keo Mavimbela-Kekana remains in critical condition, unaware of her daughter’s death. Another child in the car, a 13-year-old boy who is a neighbour and was getting a lift to school, is also in ICU. The boy, whose family have asked not to be named, underwent surgery yesterday.
“I haven’t eaten properly since the crash,” Gosiame told the Sunday Times yesterday, after returning from visiting her mother at Zamokuhle Private Hospital.
Gosiame has to pretend all is well when visiting her mother, who has not yet been told about the death of her daughter.
“I have to wipe my tears and wear a smile every day. I have to stay strong and not show my mom that something is wrong at home. I think as soon as she is okay, then we will be able to tell her.”
Gosiame said her mother’s legs were broken and she had burns on her chest and face. She had also sustained internal injuries.
Mogaila, who plays for Sekhukhune United, was released on R20,000 bail on Friday. He is charged with reckless driving, fleeing the scene of a crime and culpable homicide. Alcohol bottles and suspected drugs were found in his car.
Sekhukhune United football manager Phineas Madisha told the Sunday Times on Satuday the club had not decided on Mogaila’s future.
“We have not had an opportunity to speak to the boy. From our side we will have a meeting [today] with the chairman with the view of visiting the family of the deceased as a club. Once we have finalised everything, only then will we be able to update the public in terms of the posture that we will be taking as a team,” said Madisha.
We have not had an opportunity to speak to the boy. From our side we will have a meeting [Sunday] with the chairman with the view of visiting the family of the deceased as a club
— Sekhukhune United football manager Phineas Madisha
Asked about allegations that alcohol bottles and drugs were found in Mogaila’s car at the scene of the crash, Madisha said the club was conducting its own forensic investigation.
Gosiame said she and her sister had been close, despite their seven-year age gap.
The two had a weekend routine of staying up late on Friday nights, waking up at midday on Saturdays, brushing their teeth and eating together before watching TikTok videos.
The 13-year-old boy also broke both his legs and underwent surgery yesterday to insert metal plates, said his aunt. The grade 8 pupil remains unconscious.
The boy’s aunt feels justice has failed the families as Mogaila had been granted bail, and the court had failed to consider the victims but “only protects perpetrators”.
“The people who are affected have feelings, but granting him bail feels like the courts feel more for that guy than they do for the people in hospital. The small girl hasn’t even been buried yet and the mother is still in hospital but he gets bail,” the aunt said.
Gosiame agreed. “I haven’t made peace with that. That annoys me to the core because… I feel he was caught red-handed. His car alone had substances and he fled the scene and came back after many hours and he gets R20,000 bail… Even the car he crashed is not R20,000. My sister’s life is not worth that much. It’s totally wrong.”
Gomolemo’s uncle, Patrick Kekana, said the grade 4 pupil would be buried on Saturday. His younger brother, Tshepo Kekana, who is the girl’s father, was not taking it well, he said.
“He really is not okay, but there are still people around so you don’t see the pain in him that much. But once he is left alone, and everyone has left, that is when it will all come back. Even for myself, when I am alone in my own house, everything comes to my mind,” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.