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Memorial celebrates the life of Ontlametse

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Ontlametse Phalatse visiting President Jacob Zuma days before her 18th birthday. Picture: GCIS
Ontlametse Phalatse visiting President Jacob Zuma days before her 18th birthday. Picture: GCIS

A memorial service for South Africa’s much-loved Ontlametse Phalatse was held today at Mmanotshe Moduane High School in Hebron, North West.

Ontlametse was one of the two South African young women living with Progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes rapid ageing at a very early age.

She died last Tuesday, at the age of 18, at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa after experiencing breathing difficulties.

Doctors had predicted she wouldn’t live past the age of 14.

Last week Wednesday, during his birthday celebration, President Jacob Zuma presented Ontlametse’s family with a car and said he’d build them a house, a wish Ontlametse had expressed to Zuma before she died.

Her funeral will take place on Friday in Hebron.

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