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Siso Naile, The Witness
Pietermaritzburg - Talks between families of the seven pupils who were killed in a bakkie crash and government officials broke down on Friday as the families were told none of the funerals can take place on Sunday.
The Chonco, Chamu, Shezi, Vilakazi, Mchunu, Dlamini and Nkomo families were due to meet with officials from the department of transport, Road Accident Fund, education department and Msunduzi Municipality to discuss funeral arrangements.
Families who wanted their children buried by this weekend, however, had to leave with more bad news.
Thandiwe Chamu, mother of Bandile, 10, who died in the crash, described the meeting as a waste of time.
She said: “Even though we stressed to the officials that we wanted the mass funeral to be held over the weekend, they disagreed with us.”
Mass funeral
Chamu added they wanted the mass funeral to be sooner than next week because of concerns that the bodies might decompose. “Every family might end up arranging their own funerals because nothing really worked out at the meeting,” she said.
The Chonco family, who excluded themselves from the mass funeral plans from the start, due to cultural considerations, said their decision to bury Sinethemba, 7, separately was not challenged by any officials.
Sinethemba’s older sister, Thanda, said the family is currently busy with funeral arrangements.
Fezokuhle Primary School principal Bhekane Nkwanyana said there was nothing finalised about funeral arrangements for Sunday, but officials suggested that the memorial service be held on Tuesday at Imbali Unit 13 sports ground or the DUT Indumiso campus.
School governing body member Botsotso Mahlaba said the government could not arrange the funerals for Sunday because they had planned for Premier Senzo Mchunu to visit the homes of the bereaved on that day.
Ward 15 councillor Garnet Mlete said not everybody was pleased with the arrangements, but the memorial service was proposed for Tuesday, and the funeral for Thursday.
Road Accident Fund and transport and education department officials could not be reached for comment.
