5th Sep 2010 8:00:54 AM The Charities | The Children | Dorah Mokoena | Health | Schools / Training | Community | Regional Reports | UMashesha Home Amanda Simanga New Amukelani Dube New Andani Mphaphuli New Anele Nyongwana New Babalwa Debele New Bafana Nzima New Balombo Bambula New Basheeba Worlotoe New Boipelo Mosegedi New Bongani Madlala New Bongani Phakati New Bonginkosi New Brendan New Chris M New Deon Slabbert New Dikeledi Mboko New Doreen New Ernest Tshabalala New Evelyn Minto Essono's New Feleng New Franklin New Fursy Mogobe New Gabriel New Gloria New Gontise Mogotsi New Habiba New Helen Matondo New Irene Peta New Jabulani Malungane New Jacques Abrahams New Janine Barends New Jaun Henning New Jeffers Zitha New Jose New Jose Mvula New Kagiso Maphoso New Kagiso Mathebula New Kagiso Mphuti New Karabo Thebedi New Kedibone New Kenyan New Kjetil Sandivk Havnen New Koketso Sekuru New Lee Branco New Liane Grond New Lida Basson New Linda Nana Tshbalala New Londeka Ngidi New Maje New Marco Bronkhorst New Mbali New Mfundo Ntamehlo New Michelle Mthenjwa New Mimi New Mittah New Mlungisi New Mohau Qumpula New Mpho Maja New Musa Zwane New Musiwa New Neliswe Radebe New Nelson Tsabalala New Nkululeko New Nouna boy New Nsizwa Vilakazi New Nyakallo New Oscar Mlondolozi Hadebe New Phindile New Piet Moloja New Reagan New Rolivhuwa Matodzi New Rose Wambua New Rumbi New Saloma Aphanye New Sameh Chiboub New Samkelo Sole New Samukelo Radebe New Seif New Seizo New Selamawit New Shirley Seqobane New Sicelo New Simamkele New Sithembiso Hlatshwayo New Siyabonga Morwasetla New Siyabonga Nokumbi New Siyamthanda New Sizwe New Steven Marakeng Mpyana New Sunday Mukaza New Tapera Jani New Tavonga New Thapelo New Thomas New Thulani Nhleko New Tshepiso Sekuru New Vhahangwele Matodz New Vivian New Vusi Mathibela New Xavier New Yassine Ben Ali New Zanele Jeza New Zenette and Precious Van Wyke New Zianda Ndlovu New Zipho Zwane New Kedibone Ramaremela Kedibone (14) enjoying an orange while talking to Doreen (left) and Salome (right) about the Suikerbosrand hike. Kedibone Ramaremela is a Venda girl born to Maria and Phineas Ramaremela on 23rd March 1996. She has two sisters Norah (20) and Abashoni (18) and three brothers Alex (28), Tshamano (16) and Hangwi (10). All the youngsters have the same parents except for Hangwi, who had a different Dad. When he was about four years old, his father strangled Maria Ramaremela with a rope and then he hanged himself. The little boy was present when this happened. Kedibone says: 'He saw it. I think he remembers it.' The quiet teenager is very matter of fact about the several tragedies in her life. She said that she does not live with her father and that he does not support her financially. She sees him in December and she loves him a little. Why? 'Because he is my father,' she says. 'Phineas doesn't look after us.' He has another wife Elisa [Esther] and they had two children again. Cynthia is 18 years old. Ale (ah-lay) was about the same age as Kedibone but she died in December 2009. 'She was eating and her aunt put something in her food. I don't know if it was poison. She died.' Phineas has at least one other child, an adult called Tshepo, who lives somewhere in Johannesburg. Kedibone is looked after by her sister Norah now. Norah cares for children in a crèche for a meagre income. Kedibone used to live with her aunt Sophie. She says: 'I was in the shack and my aunt told me to light the stove. There was a small flame already. I poured in more gel [green ethanol gel] and it exploded over my face.' 'I was ten years old. The flames came up. I was crying. I called 'aunty, aunty' but she didn't help. She said: 'Yes, it's a good thing.' She was laughing.' Kedibone ran to Sophie's grandchild, Theresa. 'She just put me Colgate [toothpaste on the injury], put me in the room, locked the room and took the key.' Theresa was about 16 years old at that time, Kedibone thinks. 'Aunty Sophie came and Theresa said she did not know where I was!' 'Eventually Norah took me to the clinic. They put a bandage on my face and then I went to George Mukhari Hospital in Garankua. I was there for some weeks.' Kedibone has a sister called Norah and a cousin (Aunt Sophie's daughter) called Norah. Kedibone only started school at eight years old because she was in the care of Aunt Sophie who told her mother that she was in school when she wasn't! 'I left Pretoria and returned to Limpopo last year (2009) because my Aunt Sophie didn't want me.' 'I am old for primary school. In 2011 I will go to Jonathan Secondary School in Madombidzha. 'My father lives in Samkom. It takes about two hours to get there by bus. The taxis can take longer. He works at a chemist; he sells the medicine.' 'I want to be a nurse when I finish school because I love helping people.' 'My best subject is English; often I get 40 out of 50 for my marks.' This material is Copyright © The Dorah Mokoena Charitable Trust and/or Children of Fire , 1998-2010. Distribution or re-transmission of this material, excluding the Schools' Guide, is expressly forbidden without prior permission of the Trust. For further information, email firechildren@icon.co.za About Children of Fire | Contact us | Advertise with us COPYRIGHT © 2010 Children of Fire. All rights reserved. Designed Developed and Maintained by Fyre Interactive