LAST week was a shocking and emotional one after the heartbreaking story of four siblings who were killed by being hanged, allegedly by their father, broke.
Ayakha Jiyane would have turned 17 on Sunday, 8 September instead she and her siblings Sphesihle Mpungose (10), Khwezi Mpungose (6) and Kuhlekonke Mpungose (4) were buried at Copesville, Pietermaritzburg.
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The bodies of the three young siblings were found hanged in two separate bedrooms in their home. When the three children were found, the community began a frantic search for Ayakha whom they truly believe they would find alive.
Ayakha’s body was found later on the day, hanged in a bushy area in New Germany after her stepdad fetched her from school. It is rumoured the parents were going through a divorce, but this has not been substantiated yet.
Last Friday, Lyndhurst Primary School and Pinetown Girls’ High School (PGHS) hosted memorial services for the learners.
ALSO READ: Learners weep uncontrollably at Ayakha Jiyane’s memorial service
Despite the rain, Lyndhurst learners went out to the streets with their placards and held a special assembly afterwards. The children came to school wearing black clothes and the morning was well supported by parents, community, police, pastors and security guards.
Later, a heartbreaking service was held for Ayakha Jiyane and there was not dry eye in that hall. Ayakha’s family attended and her mom sat helplessly in the front row, holding her daughter’s school blazer, crying continuously.
The service was broken after the school choir sang an emotional song which led to people in the hall, especially the learners, crying hysterically for their schoolmate who was good example and always had a smile on her face, according to her teachers.
The siblings were robbed of a bright future
“The school lost a jewel, she was bright and was already preparing for her speech for her matric results as she knew she was going to be rated among the top learners in the province,” said school principal, Sibongile Njapha.
On Monday, PGHS principal said the mood was almost back to normal, “learners are completing their tests for the term.”
She said everything seems fine, however, the school’s counselors are available for counselling if needed.
“The memorial service and funeral helped the learners to get closure. Ayakha was an outstanding learner. She was highly motivated,was a visionary, organised, disciplined, supportive of other learners, humble, confident and very respectful of teachers.
“Learners and staff are distraught as we lost our top learner, we have lost a mentor and a role model,” she said.
Njapha added she would like to acknowledge the donations to the family by current and former learners. PGHS will have a silent protest outside the school on Friday, 13 September at 12.30pm.
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Lyndhurst principal, Dr Sara Moodley said Siphesihle (Grade 5) was an excellent learner who was well loved by his peers. “His respect for teachers and all adults was overwhelming.
“Khwezi in Grade R was a boisterous, bubbly child who performed excellently in her academics. Their mother was very involved in her children’s school life and progress. Their older sister, Ayakha was also a former learner at the school,” said Dr Moodley.
The younger sibling, Kuhlekonke, was described as a very bright learner, “on the day of his passing, he received so many stars as he was answering all the questions, he was bright kid,” said Wyebank Crèche principal, Nokuphiwa Gumede.
Their dad appeared briefly in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday after being arrested on Wednesday in KwaDabeka. He opted not to apply for bail and his case has been postponed for further investigation.
He will appear again in court on Wednesday, 9 October.
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