MBOMBELA – Youth Day will never be the same for the Chiloane and Mogane families.
After more than a week of searching, the body of Zenande Chiloane was found on 16 June, nine days after a fatal car crash. Chiloane went missing after the vehicle he was travelling in, plunged into the Crocodile River in the early hours of Sunday, 7 June.
The crash claimed the lives of two other youngsters. The search by authorities and volunteers continued without success until the ninth day, when his body was located a few kilometres from where the crash occurred.
Speaking to his family and friends a few moments after his body was retrieved, they expressed both sorrow and gratitude for the closure. Chiloane’s friend and business partner, Ziyanda Shabangu, with whom he co-owned a car rental company, was visibly heartbroken.
“He was a light to all his friends, ethical and an extremely neat and clean person. We even used to make jokes and say he was super clean. We would joke around sometimes as to how we used to even think he had OCD the way he was so neat. He was a bright light in everyone’s life,” Shabangu said.
“You never really understand until it happens to you. We are heartbroken and we do not know how to feel, but we trust that God is with us. We never thought we would experience this at all,” he added.
Shabangu recalled their last moments on the weekend of the tragedy, saying they both had so much to achieve.
He said they last spent time on Friday evening parked outside Chiloane’s house, discussing business after managing to secure a booking for their company.
“I am happy I left him with smiles. We were happy together and found joy in each other. He was a bright light in everyone’s life and gave me hope. I know that wherever he is, he is proud of what we accomplished,” he said.
Chiloane’s grandfather, Michael Mogane, said although he would miss his grandson, he was grateful for the retrieval of the body.
“The prayers from those who gathered with us and people all over the country really assisted. Finding his body is a miracle, and we were fortunate because in some cases, they do not find their loved ones. Thank you to God, the church, and everyone who was involved in the search,” Mogane said.
A memorial service will be held this afternoon at Lowveld High School. His funeral service will take place on Saturday, 20 June, at the Elshaddai Tabernacle Church in Mataffin. The graveside service will be at Rocky’s Drift Cemetery.
