The funeral of young prop Luqobo 'Bibo' Makwedini has taken place in South Africa, three weeks after his sudden death in France.
Makwedini, who was just 20 years old, collapsed following a training session with French Pro D2 side Béziers on Friday, July 12, and was rushed to hospital. He tragically passed away a few hours later, with South African media reporting that he died as a result of heatstroke after French press claimed that he is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest.
It later emerged that the former South Africa U19s international had spoken to his family days before he died and complained about the heat in France, as well as the intensity of pre-season training. The precise cause of his death has not yet been officially confirmed.
Hundreds gather to pay respects
Makwedini was laid to rest in his birthplace of Qumrha in the Eastern Cape on Saturday (August 1), with hundreds of people - including friends, family and members of the rugby community - gathering to pay their respects.
Speaking ahead of the funeral, a family member told SABC News that they were struggling to accept that the 20-year-old was no longer with them.
“We are trying,” they said. “Honestly, we are not coping at all. The family is devastated, and really, we are trying to be strong as much as we can, but at the end of the day we are celebrating ilanga lika [the day of] Bibo.”
Brother's tribute
Makwedini's remains had arrived in South Africa from France last weekend, with his older brother Sihle saying he will “miss everything” about him.
“Bibo was everything to me,” he said. “As an older brother, having to also be a guardian to people, a friend, I think I've lost. It's like a pot with three feet. I've lost one and I'm stumbling along and I will miss our conversations every night. The video calls, checking up on him while he's abroad.
“Obviously it was a new environment for him as well and I had to be there to support him in terms of getting used to the environment. I'll miss everything about Bibs. From our conversations to our little chats together. I'll miss everything about him.”
