GRAAFF-REINET — The Thembalesizwe Primary School community and the whole of Graaf-Reinet have been shocked and saddened by a tragic accident that occurred last Wednesday, April 26.
A group of teachers from Thembalesizwe Primary were travelling to Port Elizabeth in a hired Quantum taxi when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the R75 close to Kariega, in the Kirkwood area. The accident happened just before 10am, and it seems that no other vehicle was involved.
One of the passengers, 63-year-old Grade R teacher Daphney Bitterhout, tragically lost her life, and four other teachers are in a critical condition in private hospitals in Port Elizabeth. The other seven passengers suffered mainly lower body injuries, including fractures, and have been released from hospital to recuperate at home. The driver of the taxi was not injured in the accident.
The victims were all foundation phase teachers at the school and were on their way to Port Elizabeth to collect sponsored personal laptops. According to regulations, each teacher has to sign personally for their new computer, so all of the foundation phase staff had to make the trip.
The earliest that any of the injured teachers are expected to be able to return to school is next term, in July, and this leaves the school without almost half of its complement of teachers for the rest of this term at least. Logistically this will cause tremendous problems, but obviously, the deep sadness and sense of loss felt by all are uppermost on everyone’s minds at the moment.
Both the Graaff-Reinet District Education Office and Head Office, have been quick to provide professional trauma counselling services for the staff and pupils. The children have been encouraged to still attend school so as to be able to benefit from the help from these specialists. Officials from both the District and Head Office were also at the school first thing on Tuesday morning, when the school reopened after the long weekend, to offer condolences and practical support. The principal has been given special permission to appoint suitably qualified substitute teachers to stand in for those unable to work, and it is hoped that these can be found as soon as possible to cause the least possible disruption for the learners.
“We are very shocked and saddened by this tragedy, and will endeavour to provide the best possible service to the affected members of our local education family,” said District Director Nicky de Bruyn.
All of the teachers involved in the accident have been at the school for many years, and the tragedy has struck at the very heart of the Umasizakhe community.
Daphney Bitterhout had been at the school for more than ten years, and although at an age when many would have retired, her passion for teaching was such that she wanted to continue to work with the young children. Previously, she had taught at a preschool in the area. Deputy Principal Mvuleni Ndudula remembers her as a very quiet and introverted lady, who nevertheless would not hesitate to put her foot down when necessary. She was dedicated to “her” children and very dedicated and diligent. She was a real mother and grandmother figure to the thirty little ones in her class.
She leaves a son and daughter, and two granddaughters, the elder of whom is studying in Gauteng, while the 5-year-old is a pupil at Union Preparatory School. Her husband passed away two years ago, and she is survived by siblings in her hometown of Noupoort.
A memorial service for Daphney Bitterhout will be held at the Umsizakhe Community Hall on Wednesday, May 10, from 1pm till 3pm. Her funeral service will be held at the same venue on Saturday, May 13 at 9am.
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