Academia plunged into mourning
It has been an incredibly difficult period for the Windhoek school following the sudden death of two of its learners.
The last time Vistorina Hofeni's teacher saw her on her feet is when she asked whether being a journalist is a good career.
The 18-year-old Hofeni along with three other male learners were involved in a horrible car accident on the Western Bypass on 19 June. One of the three boys, the 17-year-old Tjiunatjo Kangorondueza, died on 8 July, while Hofeni died a week later on Saturday last week.
Hofeni's class teacher at the Academia Secondary School in Windhoek, Cecilia Ashipala, said she feels betrayed because Hofeni was recovering so well over the past few days.
A visibly shocked Ashipala related how she had found her learners strewn across the veld, barely seconds after the accident.
“I think the Lord had arranged it that I decided to take that same route on that particular day. When I arrived on the scene I found my children lying there. It really traumatised me, because we teachers become like second parents to our learners and to find your child on the ground motionless is nothing but a tragedy,” she said.
Ashipala, who is still shaken after receiving the bad news on Saturday, said the class is traumatised because they were planning to visit her this Saturday.
She always encouraged and urged her classmates to be positive and to pray for her recovery and she seemed to have been recovering well.
“They were writing a test on Monday after receiving the bad news but it was a terrible day. Everyone was crying while writing the test… imagine how this will affect them during the exams,” she said.
One of the surviving learners, Joseph Hangula, said the accident rests heavily on him since he had called Hofeni to join them in the taxi because they needed an extra person.
“I know I should not blame myself but I still think she would have still been alive had she not been with us in the taxi,” he said.
Hangula, who is still wearing an arm cast after sustaining injuries in the accident, said he remembers the last few minutes before the accident very clearly.
“We were joking and laughing and then it all went quiet for a second… I think I was the only one that saw the car approaching and then it went quiet,” he said, rubbing his forehead.
Most troubling, however, are his memories of Kangorondueza who so badly looked forward to their matric farewell next year.
“He was so excited about the farewell and talked about it the whole time. He was even bragging about how he would look the best on that day,” he said.
The other survivor, Jeremia Hamutenya, said he remembers nothing from the accident but recalls Hofeni as a very friendly and accommodating person.
The school's principal Herman Rust described both learners as well-behaved and disciplined. According to him they had been absent for the first time this year the day after the terrible accident.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The 18-year-old Hofeni along with three other male learners were involved in a horrible car accident on the Western Bypass on 19 June. One of the three boys, the 17-year-old Tjiunatjo Kangorondueza, died on 8 July, while Hofeni died a week later on Saturday last week.
Hofeni's class teacher at the Academia Secondary School in Windhoek, Cecilia Ashipala, said she feels betrayed because Hofeni was recovering so well over the past few days.
A visibly shocked Ashipala related how she had found her learners strewn across the veld, barely seconds after the accident.
“I think the Lord had arranged it that I decided to take that same route on that particular day. When I arrived on the scene I found my children lying there. It really traumatised me, because we teachers become like second parents to our learners and to find your child on the ground motionless is nothing but a tragedy,” she said.
Ashipala, who is still shaken after receiving the bad news on Saturday, said the class is traumatised because they were planning to visit her this Saturday.
She always encouraged and urged her classmates to be positive and to pray for her recovery and she seemed to have been recovering well.
“They were writing a test on Monday after receiving the bad news but it was a terrible day. Everyone was crying while writing the test… imagine how this will affect them during the exams,” she said.
One of the surviving learners, Joseph Hangula, said the accident rests heavily on him since he had called Hofeni to join them in the taxi because they needed an extra person.
“I know I should not blame myself but I still think she would have still been alive had she not been with us in the taxi,” he said.
Hangula, who is still wearing an arm cast after sustaining injuries in the accident, said he remembers the last few minutes before the accident very clearly.
“We were joking and laughing and then it all went quiet for a second… I think I was the only one that saw the car approaching and then it went quiet,” he said, rubbing his forehead.
Most troubling, however, are his memories of Kangorondueza who so badly looked forward to their matric farewell next year.
“He was so excited about the farewell and talked about it the whole time. He was even bragging about how he would look the best on that day,” he said.
The other survivor, Jeremia Hamutenya, said he remembers nothing from the accident but recalls Hofeni as a very friendly and accommodating person.
The school's principal Herman Rust described both learners as well-behaved and disciplined. According to him they had been absent for the first time this year the day after the terrible accident.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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