By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The emotional funeral service for the five-year-old boy Ditebogo Junior Phalane took place at the Kopanong Hall in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria.
Phalane was killed during a hijacking outside his home a week ago when four armed men hijacked his father outside their home in Soshanguve.
Mourners filled the Kopanong Hall as they sang and comforted the bereaved family.
Those in attendance included political leaders such as the EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, the DA’s Solly Msimanga, police minister Bheki Cele and public figures including DJ and TV personality Lamiez Holworthy and her husband, rapper Khuli Chana.
The five-year-old had been planning to buy himself a scooter on his birthday.
This was revealed by Phalane’s mother, who recently gave birth to a little girl less than a month ago.
In her letter to him, which was read by Busisiwe Zulu, Phalane’s grieving mother remembered how he had been saving for his gift.
“I wish I could turn back the hand of time and give you a kiss and a hug one last time. My son, you were planning to buy yourself a scooter on your birthday. Every chance you got; you would ask when your birthday would finally come.
I can still hear your voice, asking when your birthday is and then you would give me a big smile. Every morning you would go and check if your money is still there,” the letter read.
Phalane’s young parents held each other tightly as speakers denounced the violent manner in which he was taken from them.
Ndlozi described South Africa as a war zone with over 27, 000 murders having occurred in the previous financial year.
He told mourners that the child’s father, Ditebogo Senior, had surrendered when the criminals shot his son.
“Junior’s father had surrendered, he was cooperating, but the guy kept shooting. Why are you shooting? When he describes him to be he says you could see that he was under the influence of something or he’s just a person who has a psychopathological relationship with the gun.”
Ndlozi blames poverty, unemployment, and “economic devastation” for the high levels of crime in South Africa.
Meanwhile two suspects who have been arrested following the killing Phalane in Soshanguve are not facing murder charges.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has clarified that the pair, who made separate appearances in the Soshanguve and Pretoria North Courts on Friday, faces charges related to the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The NPA Lumka Mahanjana has clarified that two people are yet to be linked to Phalane’s murder.
“At this point, the two accused persons are not linked to the killing of the five-year-old in Soshanguve. However, investigations are ongoing, and until investigations link them to the offense the two will then be charged.”
“At this point, there is no charge of murder. The two accused persons are not facing a charge of murder.”
According to Cele, the two suspects were arrested after the police enlisted additional resources to assist the investigating team with technology.
The minister revealed that the suspects were “well linked” to the crime scene. Cele added that the arrests are “not the end” as police “are working on other people to be found”.