We lost 'a bright burning candle' - friends, family honour Ndoni Mcunu at memorial service

• Mourners had nothing but praise for late scientist Ndoni Mcunu at her memorial service.
• Mcunu was on holiday in the Cradle of Humankind when she and a friend died after a suspected gas leak.
• One of the mourners said the country lost a bright burning candle that could have made a difference in Africa and South Africa in terms of climate change.

Late climate change scientist and PhD candidate Ndoni Mcunu was the type of young African scientist the continent needs.

This was one of the tributes at Mcunu's memorial service on Friday when her friends, family and colleagues gathered to pay tribute to her at the Gracepoint Methodist Church in Midrand.

WATCH | Memorial service: Environmental scientist Ndoni Mcunu is remembered

Mcunu and her friend S'phumelele Mnomiya died after a suspected gas leak occurred while they were on a holiday in the Cradle of Humankind.

"We are not reaching the people we need to reach; we need a new breed of young people, scientist[s] to be able to do that. Ndoni was that type of young scientist that South Africa needs today," director of the Global Change Institute, Professor Francois Engelbrecht said.

He added:

Engelbrecht added that Mcunu was named one of the most distinguished women changemakers in climate change in Africa by the Humanitarian Awards Global a few weeks ago.

"The award was supposed to be handed to her later in the year in Ghana," he said.

Mary Scholes, Mcunu's mentor, remembered her as a humble and fun person.

READ | 'It hasn't really sunk in' - loved ones shattered after Ndoni Mcunu, lifelong friend die on holiday

"She would often come to our home and bring something. She was extremely generous and humble."

According to Scholes, Mcunu had great fashion sense and a good sense of humour.

"She knew how to network. If there's one thing we must take from her life, it's how to network. She built relationships with people."

Police have opened an inquest into the deaths.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said they discovered an open gas canister that's used for a heater, as well as alcohol in the room the women slept in at the Cradle Boutique Hotel in Krugersdorp.

Mcunu will be buried in La Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal on 30 April.

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