Sandiso Phaliso
ASISIPHO Dana, one of the eight young women killed in a stampede in a tavern in Khayelitsha last month, was described as tough-minded, a people’s person and full of life as mourners laid her to rest at Khayelitsha Cemetery on Saturday.
Saddened friends, family members and her mother Nontsikelelo Dana, 50, wept hysterically as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
Transporting mourners to the cemetery was a problem, as the 65-seater bus could transport only a handful of relatives.
Dana’s friend Dimpho Sizani, 20, said it was emotional and unbelievable that her friend was gone.
“I cannot believe I would not ever talk to her, share dreams and laugh with her again,” said Sizani.
Described as one of the top 10 pupils at her school who had dreams of uplifting her family, 17-year-old Dana was the only victim to meet the City’s criteria to get burial assistance.
The City contributed R5 000 towards her funeral, ward councillor Vuyokazi Matanzima told the Cape Times.
The seven other victims were buried in the Eastern Cape at the weekend – six funerals took place on Saturday and one yesterday.
The funerals came two weeks after the staircase railing at Osi’s Place gave way, moments after gunshots were allegedly fired in the packed tavern causing a stampede. Ongeziwe Xekethwane, Abulele Nkepu, Vuyolwethu Mbono, Athi Zokufa, Ongezwa Ndaba, Bongeka Cekiso, Dana and Zimkhitha Malinge died that morning.
Two of the eight women died when the car that was transporting them to hospital was involved in a collision.
Matanzima said the City’s role was only to see that NU Destiny undertakers, who had overseen Dana’s funeral, was taken care of, while the families had to arrange their own transport to the cemetery.
Matanzima said the quotation received from undertakers NU Destiny was R6 900, but it had to be decreased because the City’s policy stated that it could only contribute up to R5 000 for burial assistance.
Chris Stali, who chaired a fundraising committee for the funerals, said about R20 000 was raised but it was below the expected R90 000 needed.
“People did not respond as expected,” said Stali.
Stali said the money helped pay funeral parlours.
He added that as he was also a funeral parlour owner, he provided free transport and coffins. Nkepu’s uncle Simphiwe Nkepu said all went well during the funeral on Saturday. He thanked everyone who played a role in helping the family with the arrangements.
Police spokesperson Tembimkosi Kinana said the incident at Osi’s Place was “still under investigation”.
“There are therefore no further developments that can be reported at this stage regarding any progress made,” he said.