By: Eba Kandovazu
Helaria Hedimbi, the class teacher of a grade one pupil, Simon Hamunyela (7), at Charles Anderson Combined School in Ongwediva, who was fatally hit by a car last Monday, says the children at the school are still traumatised.
She explained that her learners came running to her the following morning, telling her to go clean up the blood on the road, as it was still there.
Police reported that the child’s father went to pick up his children from the same school, and Simon arrived first at his father’s car.
“As they were waiting for the other children to come, the deceased’s father went to drink water at the school tap, leaving the deceased in the car just to hear a heavy impact. When he turned to look behind, he realised that his son got bumped by a motor vehicle driving along the street,” Nampol Spokesperson Warrant Frieda Shikole said.
According to Hedimbi, the late Hamunyela was a quiet, obedient learner. The school this afternoon held a memorial service in his remembrance. Family members also attended the memorial service.
“This accident was tragic, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget that image but God will guide us. Simon was a good child. He was calm and collected. When you told him to keep quiet, he would simply smile and do so. The children at school are still traumatised. A number of children have been physically ill because of this trauma that they witnessed,” she said.
School Principal Festus Imalwa says the accident is unfortunate. He said Simon was bumped by another parent who had come to collect their children from school.
He says the accident is the first of its kind at the school and that the school has since contacted the education ministry to add an additional gate to the school. This, he said, will prevent the congestion of pupils and cars at the current entrance. He also said the school would introduce school patrol programs.