'I'm so sorry ...'
2005-09-30 22:53
Cape Town - "I'm so sorry about what happened."
The words were uttered almost simultaneously by two devastated mothers who are still struggling to come to grips with the brutal killing of their daughters.
The parents of eight-year-old Veronique Solomons, during an emotional meeting with the Norton family, said they placed her murderer "in God's hands".
Natasha Norton, the mother of murdered baby Jordan-Leigh, gave the Solomons family flowers.
The two mothers then discussed the birthdays of their daughters while comforting each other.
The police announced on Tuesday, on Veronique's eighth birthday, that it was her burnt body which had been found at Zeekoevlei.
Jordan-Leigh would have turned 10 months on Friday.
She was stabbed to death at the family home in Rondebosch East in June.
Dina Rodrigues and her co-accused have already appeared in court in connection with her death.
Veronique's dad, Elroy van Schalkwyk, said: "I am placing him (the accused) in the hands of the Lord, because he is not human.
"I can only hope he has no children.
"How would he have felt, had this happened to him?"
Veronique's granny, Joan Solomons, said in a tired voice: "The police say she was still alive when she was set alight."
After she had given flowers to Veronique's mother, Norton said: "I have not yet been able to accept what has happened since Jordan's death and it is getting worse every day.
"It is now three months and it is still fresh and clear in my mind.
"I have not yet been able to come to terms with my own grief, and for that reason it is very difficult to do something like this (meeting Veronique's parents), but it feels good to show the people that we stand together.
"What has happened, is not right.
"Something has to be done about it.
"It cannot continue in this vein.
"They were innocent children."
One of Veronique's best friends on Friday came to Solomons and gave her two hearts with the words "Best friends".
"One must be placed in her coffin and the other one must come back."
"I try to sleep, but I continuously see a scorched face in front of my eyes," Veronique's mom says.
"It feels as if I have no more tears to cry."
Vernon Norton, Jordan's grandfather, told Solomons that counselling would help in working through the trauma.
"Go and attend as many counselling session as possible.
"It's hell, but the more you talk about it, the better it becomes.
"Always remember - there are more good people than evil ones."