Junaide September was a promising rugby player with dreams of one day joining the army, but his life was cut short when he was killed during a robbery on Saturday. 

Junaide (17) was walking to his Ravensmead, Cape Town, home after rugby practice with his 16-year-old cousin and a 25-year-old man when they were attacked at the corner of Malva and Petunia streets in Uitsig at around 18:15. 

Constable Ndakhe Gwala, a spokesperson for the Western Cape police, says that, according to reports, two men attempted to rob the trio and stabbed them during the incident. 

Junaide died of his injuries, while his companions were injured. 

Two suspects were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with murder and attempted murder.

They appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday. 

For his mother, Colleen September, his death ‘still feels like a dream’. 

“I remember his friends coming to our home on the night of the incident; all they told me was that my son had been hurt. As I was heading to the scene, I was hoping that he was alive, but when I got there, he was already dead,” she recalls. 

September says police allowed her to see him. 

“Looking at my son, I was in shock. I just went down on my knees and said a small prayer for him,” September adds. 

A life full of promise 

She described Junaide as ‘full of life’ and ‘loved by everyone’.  

Junaide was a Grade 11 pupil at Valhalla High School. He played rugby for his school as well as Elsies River High and the Silverleaf Rugby Club. 

“His biggest dream was to play rugby. His positions were wing and fullback. He was awarded a scholarship to a school in Pretoria to play for their team and was due to leave in June. My son was so excited,” she adds. 

Apart from playing rugby, he was also passionate about helping his community, which ignited his interest in the army. 

“He saw how our communities in the Western Cape were battling with crime and gang violence, and he wanted to make a difference by joining the army and being part of the fight against crime and war,” she adds. 

September says she was most proud of her son when he chose to get baptised in October last year. 

“Junaide told me he wanted to live his life for Jesus Christ. He was also a part of a Christmas band called Wisemen of the East,” she says. 

September says they are shattered because he will not fulfil his plans.  
 
“His younger brother, who looked up to him, is not doing well. We are trying to find peace in his memories and in prayer,” she says. 

September hopes they get justice. 

“Junaide was such a kind soul. He brought joy to so many people around him. All that he was robbed of was a cellphone. Why take an innocent life for a cellphone? It is not fair that mothers and families are being robbed of their loved ones.” 

Junaide’s funeral is expected to be held on May 2.  
 

The Western Cape NPA had not commented by the time of publication. 

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.