Eunice Primary School Principal Cindy Harris tells OFM News, grade seven learner Melinde Odendaal’s generosity and zest for life shone brightly on the inside and out. Harris urges the Eunice family to stand by Odendaal’s grieving family and keep them in their prayers. 

"Our motto at our school for this year is spread kindness like confetti and Melinda pursued that daily”. In death as in life we stand together always as a team. The sisterhood never dies”  says Harris

Free State Education spokesperson Howard Ndaba says Odendaal was a top academic learner in addition to being an exceptionally talented athlete. 

The circumstances surrounding her death yesterday remain unclear but Ndaba confirms the young girl was competing in the Motheo Cross Country League on the University of the Free State’s Bloemfontein campus on Friday, August 2,  when she “fainted during the race and all efforts by paramedics to resuscitate her were in vain”. He adds that her parents were present when this occurred. 

The deceased was known for being proficient at multiple sporting disciplines including track, netball and hockey.

A post-mortem which will be performed on the young girl is expected to shed light on the cause of her death.

OFM News.