IT will take time for the Tlometsane family to accept the tragic passing of their loved ones.
The family lost five members to a horrific car crash last Sunday, 11 February, in Limpopo while on their way back home to Lefatlheng, Hammanskraal in Tshwane from Limpopo.
The deceased, Klaas Sello Tlometsang (64), Selaki Elizabeth Tlometsang (60), Kagiso Phillimon Tlometsane (42), Thabang Samuel Tlometsane (27) and Hendric Gontse Tlometsang (29), who was the driver when the incident occurred, were travelling back home when they met their untimely death.
This after their car, a Renault sedan, collided head-on with a delivery vehicle along the R101 near Tobias in the Waterberg District of Limpopo on Sunday, 11 February.
The accident further claimed the lives of two passengers of a police van. Police officer Constable Makoela Mpetli (29), who was attached to the SAPS Naboomspruit, and a suspect died while the driver of the van was taken to hospital.
On Sunday, 18 February, the five were laid to rest in Lefatlheng. During the moving and emotional funeral service, speaker after speaker described the incident as shocking and difficult to absorb.
North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Sello Lehari said: “We are here to support the family of Tlometsane during this difficult time. In a situation like this, it is very difficult to accept what has happened because no one knows who to blame.”
“In a funeral such as this, we rely on the word of God to comfort the family. The whole community is affected by what has happened but the family is deeply hurt. The word of God teaches us to accept the things we cannot change even if it hurts,” he said.
Lehari further said people can point fingers at one another because everyone needs answers.
“We have so many unanswered questions because no one deserves to go through such pain. All we can say is that God is here with us and as much as it is difficult to accept, God’s will has been done,” he said.
Family representative Daniel Thebe said it will take time for the family to accept what has happened as everyone is struggling to handle it.
“What happened to the Tlometsane family is very sad and scary at the same time but we have to just believe that God had other plans by taking them away from us. We are deeply hurt but we cannot question God.”
One of Thabang Samuel Tlometsane’s friends, Mokgadi Kgarume, said she was shocked when she heard the news last Sunday.
“We were supposed to go to Rustenburg to perform duties of the organisation as members of Rise Mzansi, but I was surprised when he didn’t respond to my texts and calls. Later I got the message from the family breaking the news to me and till today, I’m still shocked,” she said.
A neighbour, Constance Monaledi said this tragedy did not only hurt the family but the community as a whole. “The whole family lived in harmony with everyone and we urge those who are left behind to continue following in their mother’s footsteps and love one another.”
