School in mourning after horror crash

THREE teachers at Ekulo Senior Secondary School in the Oshikoto Region and a domestic worker died instantly when their small Opel Corsa bakkie collided head-on with a truck on the main road between Ondangwa and Oshakati on Thursday evening.

Two female teachers and a two-month-old baby survived the accident with serious injuries and were rushed to hospital. The truck driver suffered minor injuries.School principal Mwetuhanga Hishekwa identified the deceased as Ananias Shigwedha (31), who was from Otamanzi village in the Omusati Region, Alfred Mayavero (30) from Keetmanshoop in the Karas Region, and Uvatera Nunuhe (age unknown) from Tsumeb in the Oshikoto Region.The domestic worker has been identified only as Anna, from the Ohangwena Region.The two teachers who survived are Rovisa Petrus, the mother of the baby, and Helena Kandenge.Petrus and her baby were taken to the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, from where she was transferred to the Ongwediva MediPark Hospital and then to Medi-Clinic in Windhoek.The baby is receiving treatment at the Oshakati State Hospital and is said to be doing well.”We have lost talented, hardworking and dedicated teachers and we will struggle to fill their places,” said principal Hishekwa.He said the teachers were driving to Oshakati to buy soft drinks for a school bazaar when the accident happened.The school held a prayer day yesterday to comfort pupils and teachers, and a memorial service will be held at the school tomorrow afternoon.The Oshana Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, said Police were investigating the accident.The truck driver suffered minor injuries.School principal Mwetuhanga Hishekwa identified the deceased as Ananias Shigwedha (31), who was from Otamanzi village in the Omusati Region, Alfred Mayavero (30) from Keetmanshoop in the Karas Region, and Uvatera Nunuhe (age unknown) from Tsumeb in the Oshikoto Region.The domestic worker has been identified only as Anna, from the Ohangwena Region.The two teachers who survived are Rovisa Petrus, the mother of the baby, and Helena Kandenge.Petrus and her baby were taken to the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, from where she was transferred to the Ongwediva MediPark Hospital and then to Medi-Clinic in Windhoek.The baby is receiving treatment at the Oshakati State Hospital and is said to be doing well. “We have lost talented, hardworking and dedicated teachers and we will struggle to fill their places,” said principal Hishekwa.He said the teachers were driving to Oshakati to buy soft drinks for a school bazaar when the accident happened.The school held a prayer day yesterday to comfort pupils and teachers, and a memorial service will be held at the school tomorrow afternoon.The Oshana Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, said Police were investigating the accident.