Community was left heartbroken when a young influencer tragically leave this world

Neo sihlangu(28) lost his life on 27 july in a fatal car accident, the car he was travelling with overturned in a gravel road of Kruger National Park. He was on his way home in ivory Park from a funeral in limpopo. The other 4 occupants were only treated for minor injuries and Neo lost his life. Neo was a role model, a businessman, an inspiration to his community and his family’s only hope, many people in ivory Park looked up to him from young and old. He had the ability to change lives and leave a mark everywhere he go. Regardless of his difficult background, he grew up in a 3 room shack and never allowed his background to stop him from dreaming for a better future . Everyone who crossed paths with him describes him as someone who was not afraid to dream, a hard worker, a giver and he was always happy. Neo was an IT programmer, Co founder of Productive Minds Group, a community builder, a father to 2 sons and a husband. He loved saying nothing good comes without struggle and hard work, in order to appreciate something we must struggle. Let us make a generation of goal-driven individuals, make friends with people who are fighting the same battles as you, I am breaking the cycle of poverty in my family and community, that is what he was doing until he departed from this world. In a memorial service held in Ivory Park, on Thursday 1st of August, the Church Hall was packed to it full capacity. Childhood friend Tshepo Moloi, described him as someone who pushed him to greater heights and motivated him to achieve his dreams. Businessman Robert Ngwenya and his wife Isibaya’s actress Zinhle Mabena, took the stage to describe how difficult losing Neo it is since they worked closely with him in their non-profit organisation The MZ Ngwenya foundation. They met Neo 3 years ago, one thing that set him apart from the rest was that he had so much humanity, they were hosting their first event and they did not have a photographer, but Neo was a visionary, he came to the event prepared with a camera and started taking pictures without any accreditation. Neo was a giant and he needs to be celebrated. Robert said “I feel like God made a mistake, I don’t believe it is God who took Neo, I wish all of this can be reserved because we are not ready for this moment”. “What a vibrant young person, what a game changer, what are motivator, what a force” zinhle Mabena-Ngwenya said, The community of Ivory Park is heart broken, just yesterday the young man was living his life the best way , making a difference in peoples lives through his community upliftment programmes and today he is gone, it shows that nothing prepares you for death, you also don’t understand its impact until it happens to you or someone close to you. Neo’s friend and business partner Gontse Tshabalala took it upon him self to make sure neo is not forgotten. “27 July, the day he departed from this world, it will be Neo’s day, it will be celebrated and used to build and uplift the youth of Ivory Park” he said He was laid to rest at Waterfall Cemetery in Midrand, a beautiful and emotionally final send off was filled with people he worked with and made a difference, Heaven couldn’t wait for him.