Kempton Hoër teen (13) dies in his sleep

The family of a 13-year-old Hoërskool Kempton Park learner finds it hard to deal with his death, not knowing what happened.

Affectionately known as Kobusie or Seun, Jacobus Marthinus Klopper died in his sleep earlier this week.

According to his sister, Bianca Klopper (27), her brother went to bed in the early hours of Monday morning and just never woke up.

On the day of his death, Kobusie and his 16-year-old nephew, who was visiting for the school holidays, had slept on a mattress in the TV room after spending most of night playing Play Station games.

“At 3am on Monday morning our nephew said he woke Kobusie up to switch off the TV, as they had fallen asleep and left it on. He woke up, switched it off and went back to sleep. At around noon the helper woke them up and told them they couldn’t sleep all day.

“My nephew woke up without looking at Kobusie and went to the kitchen to make coffee. When he returned to ask Kobusie what he wanted to eat, he saw his face was very white,” she explained.

Her brother-in-law, Dirk van Wyk, was called.

“When I got there he looked like he was sleeping. I checked for a pulse and there was nothing. I tried to lift him up to wake him and felt his hand was stiff. I froze. I was confused and walked up and down. I asked the helper if they had called the ambulance,” explained Van Wyk.

Kobusie was pronounced dead on the scene.

The grade eight pupil and U/14B team rugby player lived with his parents on a plot in Olifantsfontein. Bianca said it was hard for the family not knowing the cause of his death.

“We just want to know what happened to our brother,” the emotional sister told Kempton Express on Friday as she struggled to hold back her tears.

She said the autopsy results would only be released anything from three weeks to a few months from now. The uncertainty, she added, was driving the family insane, especially their parents, Kobus and Elsabie Klopper.

“They want to know the cause of death. They want to know if they could have prevented it. We don’t know what happened and are struggling with all these questions,” she said.

Kobusie was the youngest of five children and the only boy among four sisters. There was a six-year age gap between him and the fourth born.

“We spoilt him rotten, not in a bad way, you know,” she said. “My mother waited so long for him and she really wanted a boy.”

Kobusie played rugby and liked fishing and farming. According to his sister, the 13-year-old had five sheep and a few cows and loved building things.

“He was good with his hands. He once made a see-saw and a putt-putt course and was building a tree house.”

The recent divorcee, who stays in a different house on the same plot, recalled the last moments she spent with her brother.

“My daughter (2) and I went to say goodnight. I remember I had sweets in my pocket and said to him, close your eyes and open your mouth. He said no but finally opened his mouth just a little bit. I tried to throw the sweet into his mouth but he caught it with his hand. When he saw it was a sweet, he ate it. We left and my daughter and I said, nag, Seun.”

She did not know that, that would be the last time she would speak to her brother.

“We called him Seun because he was so young, even my daughter called him that,” she added.

Bianca said her brother was not sick and was not on any medication. He was healthy and very active. As a baby he had survived a bout of Scarlet Fever but at the time of his untimely death he had not been suffering from anything she was aware of.

“He had no pain and had not complained about any discomfort. He was the type that always made a big deal if he didn’t feel well. He had his whole life ahead of him. He wanted to be a farmer and rugby player.

“He built his own rugby poles and taught all the small children whose parents worked on the farm how to play rugby. They would teach him how to play soccer.”

Van Wyk said they had a close relationship, would braai and play Play Station games and have lots of conversations about rugby. He said Kobusie was a big Lions fan.

His nephew is building a cross he wants to place on Kobusie’s coffin. He broke down on Monday and is crying constantly.

Messages of condolences have been pouring in to the family.

“We got so many messages from the school and his friends saying how he always tried to make everyone smile and always had a smile on his face. Even his primary school principal at Laerskool Birchleigh said he had made such a big impact in their lives because he was such a good boy who always made everyone smile,” Bianca said.

The family will miss his smile the most. “He could always make us smile, he was joker. No matter how bad your day was, he would do a silly dance or say something funny just to make you laugh, even if you didn’t want to. He was always ready with a hug if you wanted it,” said Bianca.

If she had an opportunity to see Kobusie one last time, what would she say to him? “I would hug him and tell him I love him very much and ask that we switch places.”

Kobusie will be laid to rest at 11am on Monday at the NG Kerk in Olifantsfontein.

A bus has been arranged for learners and friends whose parents will not be able to transport them. The bus will depart from Hoërskool Kempton Park at 10:15am but learners are requested to be there at 9:45am.

For more details, you may contact Bianca on 071-402-6935.