Schools in KwaZulu-Natal continued to offer their condolences to the Michaelhouse school community and friends and family of Grade 8 pupil Garth Finnemore, who was killed along with his parents in a head-on collision on Saturday.
Garth and his parents, Olivia and Gareth Finnemore, died in a head-on collision on the R622 Greytown Road while travelling back from a rugby sevens tournament.
Garth’s younger brother Harry, a 12-year old Grade 6 pupil at the Durban Preparatory High School (DPHS) was found in a critical condition and placed on a manual ventilator at the scene before being rushed to a specialist hospital for further care.
Michaelhouse said on their Facebook page that the school was devastated by the death of its Grade 8 pupil.
“We are devastated to have to inform our Michaelhouse community that one of our E Block, Grade 8 boy, Garth Finnemore, died in a car accident this afternoon, along with his parents.
“He was travelling home from a sevens rugby event at Wembley College in his parents’ car along with his parents and his younger brother, who has been transported in a critical condition to hospital,” said the school’s rector, Antony Clark.
At least 21 people lost their lives on KZN roads in a deadly weekend across the province.
Reacting to the news, Hilton College and Northwood School said their hearts were broken and they lifted the Finnemore family and the Michaelhouse community up in prayer.
DPHS said it was devastated by the news of the loss of such valued members of their Prep family.
“We hold Harry, Grade 6 and the entire Finnemore family in our thoughts at this terribly difficult time.”
Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School said it was “deeply heartbroken to have heard the tragic news” and said their “thoughts and prayers were with the Finnemore family, especially young Harry in hospital”.
“The Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School community is deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of the Finnemore family members. We extend our sincerest condolences to the Michaelhouse community during this incredibly difficult time. May you find strength, comfort and peace in the days ahead.
“Our hearts go out to the surviving member of the Finnemore family, who is fighting for his life in hospital. We hold him and his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers, and wish him a speedy and full recovery.”
Briefing the media on Monday, KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said investigations were ongoing to establish what caused the mass road tragedies in the province.
Duma said that his department, working with the Department of Social Welfare, resolved to assign social workers to the affected families to provide on a continuous basis psycho-social services during this period of grief.
Duma also confirmed that Lesotho nationals were among the 21 people who died in KZN road accidents at the weekend.
“Let me turn my focus to the decisive interventions on matters around road safety campaigns and public transport in general. We have resolved to speed up the revival of community structures that will link the department and the communities across all corners of the province.
“We are re-establishing the Rural Road Transport Forums which will be located in each ward. We are speeding up the recruitment of over 600 people from local, district and provincial levels. They will serve as community representatives and be involved in road safety campaigns and other public transport activities for five years,” said Duma.
The Mercury