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Mourners weep for Sheldean
13/03/2007 14:31 - (SA)
Pretoria - Murdered seven-year-old Sheldean Human should not be forgotten, and her death should be used as an instrument for "change in our communities," mourners said at a memorial service in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Sheldean, a Grade Two pupil at Tuinrand Primary, was found murdered on March 5 after she went missing from her Pretoria Gardens home on February 18.
Scores of people, including representatives from the president's office and the City of Tshwane, gathered at Cronje Park to bid farewell to the girl described by her headmaster as a "little angel that loved her family and friends."
People of all races and ages wept in the white tent where the service was held.
Most mourners wore pink clothes, while others stuck to traditional black.
Not a dry eye
All wore pink ribbons, which were handed to mourners, in memory of Sheldean. She had been wearing a pink top on the day she went missing.
There was not a dry eye in the tent when singer Riaan Grobler sang Josh Groban's song "You raised me up."
More tears flowed when the Tuinrand school choir sang "Amazing Grace."
The choristers themselves wept after they had finished singing.
Even the usually composed Kallie Kriel of the trade union Solidarity shed a few tears, along with most men in the tent.
"It is a great regret that there is a trend of rights of children being abused," said David Tshabalala. He conveyed condolences from the president's office about the "tragic and inhumane loss" to the Human family.
A member of the provincial legislature, James Swart, could not contain his grief as he also conveyed his condolences to Sheldean's family.
"Ons is moeg vir misdaad... ons moet saam staan (We are tired of crime... we must stand together)," he said, holding back the tears.
"Let her inspire us to act. Let us not forget her," Swart said.
Even though Sheldean's family were in a sombre mood, they were coping, said Pastor Andries Nel, who was also the master of ceremonies.
"They are coping because of the support from everyone and they are not alone, there are a lot of people who care about them," he said, adding that the counselling the family has been receiving has helped.
Sheldean's mother, Elize, coped well when she visited the spot where her daughter's body was found, Nel said.
"She's a strong woman."
The body was found in a culvert behind the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market in Pretoria West.
A private funeral, which will be attended only by family, will be held later in the day.
The man accused of her kidnapping and murder, 25-year-old Andrew Jordaan, will appear in the Pretoria magistrate's court again on Friday.
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