GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — As reported briefly in last week's edition of the Advertiser, a second teacher from Thembalesizwe Primary School in Umasizakhe died on May 5 as a result of the tragic road accident on April 26.

Grade 1 educator Thandeka Jean Badiwe (50) passed away in a Port Elizabeth hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

Badiwe, who was born and bred in Graaff-Reinet, taught for many years at Steynsburg Primary School before moving to Thembalesizwe Primary in 2009. According to Thembalesizwe principal Gordon Maqabangqa, Badiwe was known as a very humble and dignified teacher, who was always soft-spoken and faced challenges with a smile. She did not like conflict, and would quietly work as a mediator to try to avoid anyone being hurt

She was considered as a great all-rounder, and was part of many committees at the school, in particular, the maintenance committee. Special mention needs to be made of her role as leader of the decorating committee, always creating colourful and tasteful displays and décor at functions.

She is survived by her husband Pat, and their daughter, Lisa, who is a first-year student at NMMU in Port Elizabeth.

Three other teachers are still in hospital in Port Elizabeth, but are thankfully no longer in a critical condition and are now all out of danger.

Nomzamo Mfuku, a Grade R teacher, is expected to be released any day. Sindiswa Aarens (Grade 1) and Nomonde Yayi (Grade 3) are recovering well but will remain in the hospital for a while longer.

The school has been given a directive to allow them to appoint substitute teachers in the interim, and no class groups are without an educator. Three of the less-severely injured teachers were able to return to school last week, and six extra teachers have been recruited. The school is now short of just four teachers, and some of the classes have been split up and added to other teachers’ classes to ensure that all the children are being taught.

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