A white coffin stood neatly in front of a large image of Gomolemo Mavimbela-Kekana, 9, before the young girl was laid to rest in Thembisa on Saturday, after a road accident involving Premier Soccer League (PSL) player Shaun Mogaila.
Gomolemo’s mother, Keo Kekana, was unable to attend the funeral. She remains in hospital with serious injuries after the car accident on October 30, in which Magaila’s BMW M4 jumped over a barrier and collided head-on with the Hyundai Grand i10 in which they were travelling.
It is believed Kekana is still unaware her daughter died in the accident, as she remains in a serious condition in ICU at Zamokuhle Private Hospital.
Last week, Gomolemo’s older sister, Gosiame, told the Sunday Times she had to pretend all was well when she visited her mother. “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 that as soon as she is OK we will be able to tell her.”
She was a hard worker, neat and always quiet in class. She later made friends with everybody, and I mean everybody. I didn’t really understand who her real friends were because she was kind and sweet to everyone
— Ms Masemola, Gomolemo’s teacher
Gomolemo, a grade 4 pupil, was on her way to school. Their 13-year-old neighbour was also in the car and sustained serious injuries in the accident. The crash was caught on video by a dashcam.
Yesterday’s service was held at the Faith Mission Bible Church in Andrew Mapheto Drive — the same street in which the accident occurred.
Gomolemo’s cute face and bubbly personality captured the heart of her teacher, Ms Masemola, who told mourners how the child joined Edleen Primary School only this year, but quickly made friends and became one of its top achievers.
Masemola said Gomolemo was a short and shy girl who knew no-one when she joined the school.
“I used to call her Shortie to make her laugh and smile, and she would say, ‘Ma’am, I’m not Shortie — I’m Gomolemo!” She was a hard worker, neat and always quiet in class. She later made friends with everybody, and I mean everybody. I didn’t really understand who her real friends were because she was kind and sweet to everyone,” her teacher said.
Gomolemo was due to receive her first academic awards on Thursday, which included silver certificates for achieving 81% in English, 83% in social sciences and 84% in natural sciences and technology, Masemola said, as the crowd applauded and gasped in amazement.
Masemola, who occasionally paused to shed a tear for her pupil, stood at the podium wearing a T-shirt with Gomolemo’s face printed on it.
“This little girl was my follower [on TikTok] and my number one fan. She was always the first to comment after I posted my videos ... Let us remember Gomo not just as a learner, but also as a source of inspiration and a beacon of light in our darkest moments. She may have been taken from us too soon, but her impact will resonate within our souls,” Masemola said.
Gomolemo’s schoolmates, dressed in uniform, took to the stage to read tributes to her. One of her friends, Katlego Matlou, read out a poem she had written to Gomolemo in which she said she would have spent more time with her friend if she had known her life was about to end unexpectedly.
“If I had known you wouldn’t be here anymore, I would’ve made the moments last a little bit longer, because now I’m alone, and you are just a memory in my mind. I would’ve given anything to say goodbye. I remember how you would laugh all the time, but now you are not around, and I am just trying to find something else to fill the empty space you’ve left behind. But nothing seems to work,” Matlou said in her poem.
Gomolemo was buried at Modderfontein cemetery.
Mogaila, 29, who plays for Sekhukhune United, was granted R20,000 bail two days after giving himself up to the police.
He fled the scene immediately after the accident, and police found alcohol bottles and white powder in his abandoned car. He is due back in Thembisa magistrate’s court on February 4 on charges of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving, and fleeing the scene of an accident.
Sekhukhune United football manager Phineas Madisha told the Sunday Times the club would not comment on the matter until the forensic investigation into the crash had been completed.
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