While some of the mourners fainted, some wailed uncontrollably as the coffins containing the bodies of a father and his two children were simultaneously lowered into the earth at Musina graveyard on Saturday.

This was during the emotional funeral service of Hendrick (31), Thapelo (2) and Thabo (1) Malithuba, who were swept away by the recent floods, when the car in which they were travelling plunged off a destroyed bridge on the Pontdrift road outside Musina.

Hundreds of mourners from all corners of Limpopo, mainly members of the St Engenas ZCC, had to put everything aside to join family members in order to bid their final goodbye to the three deceased.

Family representative Mbudzeni Mabasa said: “Death has robbed us of a father, a brother, a pathfinder and a strong man who always worked hard to feed his family. Our hearts bleed for the innocent little kids, but there is nothing we can do except to accept it as it is. We would like to thank Musina Municipality, businesspeople and all the community members who have been on our side since this tragedy struck. We wouldn’t have achieved all this if it was not for their support. We also know that there are those who have been encouraging us with prayers for the past two weeks.”

Mayor Carol Phiri said it was unfortunate that the three Malithuba family members had to die such a cruel death. “As a caring municipality, we have done our best to make sure that the deceased are buried in a dignified way. We would also like to thank everyone involved in assisting the family at this time of need. We only have to put our trust in God because He is the only one who knows why it happened like this. As a municipality, our wealth is the people, but we feel somehow uncomfortable when we lose our community members in disastrous situations like this one. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace.”

While the undertakers were lowering the coffins to the ground, Pastor Philemon Marera of the St Engenas ZCC said that they had come to share the great loss with the family. “We don’t come today with any answers why it happened like this. It might be difficult to believe, but the Bible says that it’s actually good for us to be here today.  It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every person; the living should take this to heart.”