Little ones remember Meckson
Strydom remembered Meckson as a quiet man who did his work and would not hurt a fly.
“Meckson has gone to heaven,” is how Jacqui Strydom explained the death of Meckson Luhana to the children at a preschool he used to work for.
Meckson was struck by a vehicle while cycling on Greenstone Drive on February 5.
He died on the scene.
On February 11, children, staff and teachers at the Bambini Preschool and Aftercare in Edenvale, gathered outside at the school garden where Meckson spent his days working.
They planted flowers in remembrance of Meckson.
Bambini learners had little shovels and forks, ready to plant their flowers for their late gardener.
Their eager hands were covered in dirt and their faces in dust from the stones they neatly placed on top of the plants, for decoration.
Stydrom, owner of Bambini, said the children don’t really understand what was going on.
“Even after we told them he has gone to heaven, one of the children asked ‘when he will come back?’”
Strydom said Meckson did gardening at her home and preschool.
“We had been collecting toys and items for him to take home for his daughter and wife in Malawi.”
The preschool owner said it felt strange now that he is gone.
“I can’t get another person to replace him because I feel bad, he was just here last week.”
One room at the preschool had donations of toys, food and clothes neatly packed.
Meckson’s cousin was yet to collect the donations for his family and the late gardener’s clothes he used to work in.
Strydom remembered him as a quiet man who did his work and would not hurt a fly.
She also expressed her disapproval of how his body laid on the scene for hours before it could be removed.
“No one deserves that.”
