On November 13, a school bus carrying children crashed and caught fire near Warden in the Free State, South Africa. Four children were seriously injured while seventeen others sustained minor injuries. Thoto Mofofeng, 10, was critically injured while trying to save her 3-year-old twin sisters, Refiloe and Reneiloe but they died in the fire. Thoto is yet to be told that her sisters didn’t survive.
Her father Sifa Johannes Mofofeng said he has not had the heart to tell her that her sisters died in the fire.
“We went to visit her on Sunday( November 22) and we are very happy… she is healing, her wounded face is also promising, she can also walk and talk,” said Mofokeng.
Thoto, who is described as a heroine by members of the community, sustained “terrible facial burns” as she tried in vain to save Refiloe and Reneiloe who died when a school bus caught fire earlier this month.
“We are still scared to tell her that her sisters are gone because we donโt want her to get worse,” said Mofokeng.
“Although it is still hard to come to terms with the loss, we are receiving a lot of help from members of the community, which we appreciate.”
Mofokeng said five of his children – aged 3, 10, 15 and 20 – were in the bus that was transporting 22 children.
It was travelling from a crรจche at the Sibonakaliso Combined School between Warden and Harrismith when it caught fire. Mofokeng said when he arrived at the scene, he found his twin toddlers had already died.
“I will miss them so much, they were funny and naughty and I just loved having them around. Whenever I was busy they would come to disturb me so that I could play with them,” he added.
