BOPHELONG – The painful cry of a grief-stricken mother after the lifeless body of her son was discovered lying in an icy open veld, broke the quietness of a blue Monday morning (August 5).
Following the hysteric screams, dozens of residents in Ext 11 gathered at the scene around 8:00 where the deceased was covered in foil – their faces fixed with sorrow and disbelief.
This comes after Zakes Mokoena (29) apparently left his house to purchase nyaope.
According to the family spokesperson, Seipati Mokoena, Zakes had been in poor health since August 2 and was advised to stay indoors. Despite strict warnings and efforts to lock him in until he was fully recovered, the young man left his home and never returned.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster at their family home later on the day – a stone’s throw away from the scene – Seipati explained the last moments before the incident.
“When Zakes wanted to go out, his mother pleaded with him and suggested he send someone else. He forcefully left the house even though he knew he was weak,” she said.
When Zakes took too long, his stepdad went to look for him and discovered him in the veld. “What breaks everyone’s heart is that he had to meet his demise in the streets. His mother is left reeling. A small comfort is that at least he wasn’t murdered,” she added.
Seipati highlighted the devastating impact of nyaope.
“For many years, Zakes has been in and out of rehab only to come back and relapse.
Only they [users] know the pain of being hooked to this monster. In his last moments, he pleaded to be saved from using. We would helplessly watch him plead with tears rolling down his face to help him quit,” she said. Vanderbijlpark police spokesperson Seargent Sabelo Sigcu said an inquest docket has been opened. Cause of death is not yet known.