Mangaliso Kabulika
THE St George’s College community is in shock.
The elite school is united in mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars.
Many students broke into tears when they gathered to pay their respects to their deputy head boy, Ashley Musendekwa, at his parents’ home in Helensvale, yesterday.
Ashley, (17), died in a horrific head-on collision along Harare Drive in Mt Pleasant on Wednesday evening.
He recently earned his honorary colours for his achievements and also played tennis for the Zimbabwe team.
It was evident that the students were struggling to come to grips with the reality of Ashley’s sudden death.
The boys were greeted by Ashley’s grieving family, who despite their heavy hearts, welcomed them with open arms.
The students, who were accompanied by their teachers, expressed their condolences and shared their memories of Ashley, bringing comfort to each other, amidst the sorrow.
They hugged each other for comfort, seeking solace in their collective pain.
Inside the house, the students sang a touching song, a traditional send-off for their mate, and chanted the school’s war cry, as they tried to come to terms with the reality of Ashley’s death.
They sang the old spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, song.
One of the teachers accompanying the students, Mr Ngarande, expressed shock at Ashley’s untimely and tragic death.
“It is hard to start going backwards and describing what kind of a student he was because I am still in shock just as the students are.
“We are still trying to digest all this.
“He was the deputy head boy and had recently earned his honorary colours.
“He played tennis and was in the Zim team. His achievements were remarkable. He interacted well with others at school and was very direct when it came to expressing himself to us.
“What a loss,” he said.
Ashley died on the spot when the KIA he was driving collided head-on with a Koala Park Abattoir truck along Harare Drive.