“There is no justice for me or my son. No court sentence can bring him back, nor give me peace or healing. My son was killed for no reason.”

Speaking to the Parys Gazette about her painful loss, Kelebogile Nnete, mother of 15-year-old Tshireletso, stood outside the Parys Magistrate’s Court on Monday with other community members, awaiting the outcome of the judgment against the 43-year-old accused charged with Tshireletso’s murder.

Tshireletso, a Grade 10 learner at Yakhisizwe Secondary School, was playing soccer with other children in the street when he and another boy were allegedly assaulted by the accused in front of a group of children. Tshireletso succumbed to his injuries on March 5, 2025.

The accused later handed himself over to the police.

Mina Maine, whose son was also caught up in the attack, previously told the Gazette that her child was the stronger of the two boys and was fortunate to escape the attack.

Kelebogile strongly denied earlier rumours alleging that the accused’s son had been bullied. She said Tshireletso and the boy attended different schools and had never played together before the tragic incident.

In May this year, community members handed a memorandum and petition, containing 2 387 signatures from parents, teachers, business owners and community leaders, to the manager of the Parys
Magistrate’s Court. The petition addressed violence against women and children, as well as drug dealing in communities.

The community called on the court to act decisively for the sake of children, families and their future.

Judgment was postponed till August 26.