BLOEMFONTEIN – The horrific death of Kgethang Kgotso Khaeane has reopened deep wounds for the family, who tragically lost their daughter Moleboheng Matshediso Khaeane also in a motor vehicle accident. Both died in their prime and in the month of July — Kgotso aged 25 on 5 July, and his sister Moleboheng aged 33 on 20 July 2023. The latter reportedly died after a head-on collision with a truck on the N1 outside Bloemfontein.

Kgotso’s death has been classified as culpable homicide by the Free State police based on the preliminary evidence of the ongoing investigation. At the centre of the high-profile, poignant, fatal incident is a prominent figure — Advocate Tankiso Mea, former municipal manager of Mangaung Metro Municipality.

The grief-stricken father, Sello Khaeane, revealed that both Moleboheng and Kgotso were tied by the same passion — pursuing journalism. Moleboheng was a video journalist and worked for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in the Free State at the time of her death. Kgotso was in his second year of a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the University of the Free State (UFS) at the Bloemfontein campus.

“We have been dealt a devastating blow with the untimely passing of Kgotso. He decided to pursue a journalism career to honour his sister Moleboheng,” said Khaeane, adding: “Kgotso’s death and the circumstances surrounding it are a double-edged sword… the pain is unbearable. This has reopened deep wounds for the family that was trying to come to terms with his sister’s death involving a vehicle,” said a visibly drained father.

Kgomotso Moroosele, family spokesperson for the Khaeanes, confirmed that Kgotso will be laid to rest Saturday, 18 July.
“The post-mortem has been done, so we are preparing to lay Kgotso to rest with dignity, give him a deserving farewell, a hero’s farewell for his sacrifice in trying to save someone, but he lost his life in the most indiscernible way,” said a visibly distraught Moroosele.

Tributes and messages of support continue pouring in for the Khaeane family. A prayer service is being held at his home in Hillside View as part of the mourning and will continue until Friday.