Tommies mourn the loss of Gr 9 learner, Tumelo

POLOKWANE – With the start of the second term and learners and teachers back at school, there is one chair in the Gr 9 class at Tom Naudé Technical High School that remains empty.

Tumelo Tepanyekga (15), described by friends and teachers as a bubbly and respectful learner, tragically passed away on March 19.

According to his mother, Ngwakwana, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoma Leukaemia (ALL) in November 2020 while in Gr 6.

“I noticed he had hives on his legs that were somewhat swollen and the temperature on and around these hives was quite high. Since it was not on his face and neck, but on his legs, I decided to take him to a general practitioner.”

The doctor prescribed medicine, steroids and creams that worked well for a while. The hives went away but as soon as Tumelo stopped the medicine, it reappeared.

Ngwakwana consulted another doctor, who recommended that they see a dermatologist.

“Unfortunately I could not get him to the dermatologist during the Covid-19 period. But one day I drove past a doctor’s practice and decided perhaps it was time for some blood tests. I wanted to understand what was going on. The tests for allergies came back negative, but the doctor did pick up on the high infection count.”

It was at this point that it was decided to extract bone marrow, she remembers.

“The results of the first test were inconclusive, but that of the second test were positive for ALL. Around this time, in the last week of November that year, Tumelo received his blazer at Bet-Shalom for becoming a leader for 2021. On December 1 he started with chemotherapy and he also had eight sessions of radiotherapy. He changed almost overnight. He became moody and reserved. The chemotherapy caused him to develop diabetes and he became very depressed. The doctor prescribed anti-depressants.”

When it was time for him to go to high school, they chose to enroll him in Tom Naudé. Here he was a star learner, lively and bubbly, kind and respectful.

“He always wanted to support others and make sure everyone around him was happy. Even while being treated himself, he would make sure the other patients in the ward were happy. He brightened up the lives of everyone around him and was always positive. He disliked how some learners were rude to the teachers and would often say he did not hate them, he just hated what they were doing to the teachers. He wanted to see everyone treated fairly.”

Tumelo’s last day at school was on March 14 as he seemed to have developed a fever.

Five days later, only a few minutes before midnight, he passed on. His service was held on March 24.

“I miss him so much. Our hugs, conversations, listening to his dreams, things he wanted to invent, laughter, good night kisses and good morning smiles. In his remembrance every year around March 24, his soccer team will host a tournament in his honour.”

Tumelo was part of the Tlou Molekwane Football Academy which played in a tournament on December 16, 2023.

Ngwakwana plans to keep his memory alive. She registered an NPO to help cancer victims in the city and province with accommodation.

“He begged the doctors not to let him die and I will do my best to keep him alive in my heart by helping others.”

Tumelo’s younger brother, Tebogo, says he misses his big brother, travel mate and friend.

He is survived by his mom and brother.