Tombstones to be erected for victims of the fatal accident
In the wake of the acquittal of Dogi Thoomadi, the man who was behind the wheel in 2015 when a truck overturned in Dutlwe killing nine Matsha College students, a similar tragedy that happened 26 years ago is now back in the public discourse as survivors come together to honour their departed peers.
On June 10 1995, a 7tonne truck carrying students from Gosemama Junior School collided with an incoming 7tonne veterinary truck just before the Gootau turn-off killing nine students and one teacher.
The tragedy left the five villagers of Goo-Tau, Goo-Sekgweng, Manaledi, Mathakola and Mokungwane in the Tswapong region in distress.
Now two decades later, some survivors of that horrific accident are planning to honour their departed schoolmates and teacher by erecting tombstones and holding a memorial service in their honour.
Reliving the memories of that fateful June evening, one survivor- Lenyatso Kooletile, said when they left Bakgopeng Junior School in Lesenepole, where they had gone for ball sports, he could just feel that something was wrong.
“In the morning when we arrived, we used the Lengwaelo gravel road, but in the afternoon for the return trip, we took the A1 road as some teachers wanted to be dropped off in Palaye,” recalled Kooletile.
He said when they arrived in Palapye at the once popular place known as ‘Tla Pitseng’ (Now Hungry Lion), some teachers and students alighted.
“I could sense something terrible was going to happen, but no one was prepared to listen to a student when I suggested we spend the night in Palapye,” he said.
“It was already dark, I think it was around 7pm, when we proceeded with the journey,” Kooletile told The Voice.
Kooletile said just before they made a left turn at ‘States’ (Martinsdrift flyover), the truck’s side doors flung open.
“For the second time I suggested that we should rest and continue with the journey the next day, but everyone was in an excitable mood, and that’s when I began to pray,” he said.
About an hour later a 7tonne truck coming from the opposite direction rammed on to the side of the student truck, killing nine on the spot.
“It was mayhem, we saw our colleagues with broken limbs, bloody and motionless. We all watched as corpses were being counted. The injured were taken to the hospital while the rest were lodged at a school in Ratholo,” he said.
Kooletile said to their horror, another 7tonne truck was sent to fetch them in the morning.
Event organiser and also one of the survivors, Nonofo Collen Matlakala, told The Voice in an interview that he will forever be thankful to the late teacher Douglas Mojasagagwe who swapped sitting positions with him.
“He literally ordered me to find space somewhere in the middle of the truck, as I was sitting on the side, the exact spot where the truck was hit,” said Matlakala in remembrance of the Tonota native.
“I was counted among the corpses until someone noticed a sign of life, and that was when I was rushed to Nyangagbwe Hospital where I remained in a comma for a month,” he said.
Matlakala said after he was discharged from the hospital, he had to learn how to walk again.
“I survived. It is a scar I’ll live with for the rest of my life and I’m appealing to companies and individuals to help me raise funds for the tombstones of our former colleagues,” said Matlakala.
He said the Gosemama Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) has opened a bank account for those wishing to donate.
Account type-Gold business account
Account name:Gosemama CJSS PTA
Account no: 62920031812
Branch name and no: Serowe 285367
Swift code: FRNBWGX
