By Staff Reporter
GA-SEKORORO – The woman who tragically passed away in her boyfriend’s residence was laid to rest in a heartfelt and emotional funeral service in Kanana, Ga-Sekororo.
Moshibudi Valencia “Shibu” Mashumu, a 26-year-old Civil Engineering and Building Construction L3 student, was buried beside her family in Moshate Ga-Sekororo on Saturday, 1 March 2025.
Shibu’s funeral was attended by numerous mourners, including her classmates, fellow students, and family members, who shared their grief and remembered the vibrant young woman she was.
During the service, a strong message was conveyed to the attendees, especially the youth – No to Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Her fellow students made their voices heard with t-shirts bearing a powerful message: “You don’t see my tears, but I cry. STOP GBV.”
One of her close friends and classmates, Sekhwela Athalia, a Plumbing student, reflected on Shibu’s warm and bubbly nature. “Shibu was not just a classmate, but a sister to all of us. We will sorely miss her smile and jokes,” said Sekhwela.
The Maake Campus SRC Chairperson, Ms. Caron Modjadji, expressed the shock and deep sadness that had engulfed the Letaba TVET College community after Shibu’s untimely death. “We are still in shock,” she said.
“The pain of losing Shibu is unimaginable. She was such a bright soul, and her death has left a hole in our hearts.”
Mr. Godfrey Mabasa, the College spokesperson, extended the institution’s deepest condolences to the Mashumu family, stressing the importance of justice for Shibu. “We stand in solidarity with the family during this difficult time. We trust that the law enforcement agencies will conduct a thorough investigation into her death. We all want to know what happened to Shibu,” he remarked.
In addition to their support, Mabasa announced that the College will be hosting a memorial service for Shibu and launching a Gender-Based Violence Awareness campaign at Maake Campus to raise awareness and prevent further tragedies of this nature.
According to police reports, Shibu’s lifeless body was discovered on February 17, 2025, in a highly decomposed state. Authorities were alerted after a call was made to report the discovery of a woman’s body at a residence in the area. Upon investigation, the police found visible signs of bruising on her body, indicating possible foul play, and confirmed that she was in an advanced stage of decomposition.
It is understood that Shibu was last seen alive at her boyfriend’s house on the preceding Saturday, but the exact cause of her death remains unclear.
The police have opened an inquest docket as part of their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
