A candle light ceremony in Eldorado Park to support the two families who lost their sons
'A community in mourning'
Residents gathered in Old Eldos to show support for the two families who lost their sons over the Easter Weekend. 23-year-old Lefa Fema and 27-year-old Darren Van Wyk were amongst the many party goers who attended a bash held in the area on Saturday, April 20.
It is alleged that both men were shot and killed and their bodies left for family and friends to find. It also alleged that another young man was ambushed and brutally beaten.
Community leaders from the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) was present at the candle lightening ceremony and shared messages of support to the mourning families.
Community leader Dereleen James and LDAC chairperson, Cheryl Pillay, addressed the families and everyone who was attended.
“Words fail one when we come to situations like this. It brings a different to our community when we can come together and share in the loss of loved ones. It is a very painful occasion, no mother should ever have to bury their child. It’s a painful reality that has become so common in our community, and we can no longer be quiet about it,” said Pillay.
The leader also said that bashes have become a norm within the community.
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“At most of the bashes there are things that are not supposed to happen and as leaders we can no longer say that it is okay. We cannot be losing children at bashes. We cannot be having girls go missing at bashes.
“We cannot have children under the age of 18 being on the street at that time of the night. The youngest boy that was involved in a mob justice attack on the night of the killings was only 15-years-old. That cannot be okay,” the leader added.
Ward Councillor Fazel Jaffer was also present. “I want to appeal to parents to stop being the enablers of their children’s wrong doing.
“As councillors we often get requests from parents who have signed petitions to close off streets so their children can host and attend bashes. That needs to come to an end. No street bashes will be allowed from now on,” the councillor said.
Youngsters said that the reason why they attend street bashes is because the youth in the community have nothing else to do. They also said that they attend these bashes simply for love of music. Many of them admitted that the last bash was truly a tragedy.
According to Dereleen James, Seven perpetrators have been found thus far.
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