TWEEFONTEIN K– Colleagues, friends and family members gathered at His Will Ministry Church on Tuesday, 01 July, to bid farewell to Sam Thabiso Maimela (60), a beloved mathematics teacher at Vulamehlo Senior Phase School in Vlaklaagte No.1. Many are struggling to come to terms with his untimely death.
Three suspects– according to police reports– allegedly hijacked and kidnapped him on the evening of 20 June, as he was about to enter his home. The next day, the police found his car at KwaMhlanga, but not him.
After an intense investigation involving various law enforcement units, his body was later discovered dumped in a secluded area near Gemsbokspruit in Tweefontein on 25 June.
The police found his body with gunshot wounds and it is likely that he succumbed to the injuries.
Maimela was more than just a teacher, he was a mentor, a guide and a father figure to the many pupils he had taught over the course of his teaching career.
At the memorial service, those who knew him well painted a picture of a man who lived for his learners and died before his time. “He loved his learners,” attested former school principal, Emilly Jiyane. “He was humble, respectful, and down to earth. He had morals. He made sure his learners understood mathematics; it was not just a job, it was a calling.”
North Circuit Education Manager, known as Mthombeni, also paid tribute to the late teacher. “He led Vulamehlo with excellence in mathematics. His death has left a huge gap in our circuit. We don’t know how we will fill it.”
The police have since arrested on 25 June 2025 three male suspects aged between 23 and 34.The suspects– who all refused to apply for bail–- appeared in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate Court on Thursday, 3 July.
The case has been postponed to 5 August 2025 as detectives await post mortem results, fingerprints from the car, and phone call records.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) Phumula Branch stood in solidarity outside the court and held placards reading #Justice_For_Maimela.
“We’ve lost a fellow comrade, a colleague. We want justice. Teachers are not safe anymore, and we must take a stand,” said SADTU Phumula branch secretary, Ngwenya.
“Maimela didn’t just teach maths, he changed lives. His morning classes, his gentle corrections, and his passion for education will not be forgotten. He taught our learners more than numbers, he taught [them] how to be better people,” said Vulamehlo Senior Phase acting principal Bathabile Tshabangu.
