“It feels like my soul has been smashed out of my body. It is unfair that so many people with whom I was so close all died at the same time”
FIVE young people, including two matric pupils at Danielskuil High School, were killed in a motor vehicle accident in Lime Acres in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The sole survivor of the accident, Lebogang Louw, only sustained scratches to his neck and hand in the incident which left his brother and four friends dead.
Eighteen-year-old Louw said yesterday that his 26-year-old brother, Collin Louw, was driving their mother’s Toyota Etios, while he himself was seated in the passenger seat, when the accident happened.
He said that their friends, Itumeleng Molailwa, 19, Thuso Rooibaadjie 19, Tumelo Mojaki, 28, and Katlego Thiba were all passengers in the back of the vehicle.
Louw is a matric pupil, as were Rooibaadjie and Molailwa.
Speaking yesterday from his home in Danielskuil, Louw described the incident as “unfair”.
“It feels like my soul has been smashed out of my body. It is unfair that so many people with whom I was so close all died at the same time,” said Louw.
He described the group as a close-knit bunch of friends.
“I was very close with my brother, Collin, and we were together every day. He was always happy … in fact the whole group was always happy as well as respectable,” Louw said.
He added that each of his friends had their own personality.
“Tumelo was the light of the group. He kept everyone together and in-line. Thuso is my cousin and we have been close since childhood. I know Itumeleng, initially from seeing him around town, but we grew close in 2016 or 2017 when our school competed in a soccer match. I met Katlego on Sunday.”
Louw said that he, Thuso and Itumeleng loved to play soccer.
“Thuso and I were planning to study at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) where he was going to play soccer and I was going to study law. Itumeleng was planning on going to Kathu where he wanted to pursue a career in engineering,” said Louw.
Thuso’s mother, Ellen Rooibaadjie, said her son was set to have a bright future in soccer.
“Thuso was staying in an academy since he was nine years old. He loved playing soccer and as the years progressed he went for trials at SuperSport United. He was advised to finish his matric so that he could be selected to play professionally. He then returned to Danielskuil last year to complete his high school. SuperSport United called him and said he had been selected for their academy for next year. During this year, Kaizer Chiefs also gave him a call and said he had been selected for their academy and that they were also waiting for him to complete his matric. We knew he loved soccer and that he would have had a bright future in sport,” said Ellen.
She said she is heartbroken that her child had been taken away from her so suddenly.
“Thuso only wrote two of his subjects, English and Mathematics, during his final examinations. We were so excited for his future endeavours.”
She described the teenager as someone with a vision. “Thuso knew what he wanted in life and was focussed. He was a very pleasant child and I, with the help of his grandfather and family, invested a lot to make his dreams come true. He was also a conductor in the church choir. He was very active and loved to joke around and was sometimes naughty, but not so naughty that he could end up in jail,” she joked.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Captain Sergio Kock confirmed the incident.
“The police in Lime Acres are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a Toyota was involved in an accident on Sunday, October 26, 2019 at about 2am the morning. The incident happened about seven kilometres outside Lime Acres. The driver of the vehicle allegedly lost control of the motor vehicle. Four of the six male occupants died on the scene and one later died in the Lime Acres hospital. Only one passenger escaped the accident unscathed. Anyone with information regarding the accident can contact Detective Warrant Officer Richard Moeng on 082 4543 549. The investigation continues,” said Kock.
The funerals will take place on Saturday.
