On Thursday 22nd January 2009 at 1pm, the town of Aberdeen became still as it took on a somber feeling of grief. A large crowd of mourners filled the showground’s hall to capacity, to mourn the tragic passing of relatives and friends who were victims in the horrific taxi accident just outside Paarl in the Western Cape.
The service was conducted by Pastoor Kekana who spoke of the victims, Eltonio Fick, Hermanus “Erick” Mauply, Thandiwe Jantjies, Willie Adams and Maria Jackson, and expressed his sympathy to their relatives and friends.
Mayor D Japtha addressed the relatives and read a poem of remembrance to them. The mourners were addressed by Councilor V. Jacobs, Maureen Masimila and Calvin Olifant who gave words of comfort to the mourners.
A large tiered candelabra was lit in remembrance by all the relatives and flowers were presented to the immediate families by the Mayor on behalf of the newly formed Aberdeen Heritage Archive and Tourism Bureau. The Gospel Revolutions and the Aberdeen Lord Comforters sang “In the Land of Fadeless Day” and “Amazing Grace”.
As the large crowd filed out of the hall, spontaneous singing broke out in praise of those departed.
Article By: Joan Tinker
Article By: Joan Tinker