Young victims of fire laid to rest

The two children who died in a shack fire a fortnight ago were laid to rest during an emotionally charged funeral service at Tshalovha cemetery in Khumbe village on Saturday.

Thanyani Ndou (13) and Konanani Mulovhedzi (7) burnt to death while they were sleeping inside the shack of Thanyani's mother on the night of 21 February. The two children were attached to the Munna Ndi Nnyi project as children from vulnerable backgrounds.

The two minors were alone inside the shack when the fire broke out.

During the burial service, Thulamela Municipality's mayor, Cllr Grace Mahosi, urged mothers and guardians to not leave children unattended while they go away. “As a municipality that cares for people's welfare, we don't wish to see incidents of this nature happening again in our area,” Mahosi said tearfully. “Two beautiful kids lost their lives. Parents must always keep a watchful eye on children.”

The dead children's parents, Ms Pinky Ndou (28) and Ms Joyce Mulovhedzi (40), wept bitterly when the coffins were lowered into the graves. “My daughter, my daughter...” Ndou was heard weeping.

The pupils and educators from the two primary schools which the deceased attended also came to the funeral to bury their loved ones.

The director of Munna Ndi Nnyi, Mr Bardwell Mufunwaini, said that a mother must display tender care similar to that of a hen. “The hen protects her chicks, so that the vulture won't steal away any of them,” Mufunwaini said.

Thanyani was in Grade 7 at Muthule Primary School, while Konanani was doing Grade 2 at Tshikovhokovho Primary School.

Date:07 March 2014

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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