South Africa: The funeral of 6-year-old Thabang Philile Klaas took place yesterday in New Brighton. Thabang was allegedly strangled to death by his mother’s ex-boyfriend in a suspected act of revenge.
Speaking at the funeral, the Executive Mayor, Cllr Eugene Johnson, urged the community and women to stand together and fight the scourge of Gender-based Violence and Femicide.
She condemned the senseless murder of the innocent child and promised that justice would prevail.
Thabang has been described as an active and lively child. Mrs Gonya, his class teacher, related an incident that occurred in her class before Thabang was murdered. He allegedly switched off the light bulb in his classroom while the teacher was busy teaching, and when questioned about what he was doing, he simply smiled and said nothing. His teacher believes it was his way of stating, “my light will no longer be on earth.”
Mr Dumisani Khuhlane, a community development worker, promised that social development, working closely with the mayor’s office, would provide all the necessary support that the family would need.
In addition to this, he proposed that Wards 15 and 16 form their own organization to work on social advocacy projects.
