There wasn’t a dry eye at the memorial service for Duran Visagie,11, at Brooklands Primary School in Northpine last week.
Duran was hit in the head by a stray gang bullet on the corner of Joseph Avenue and Carmen Street, Scottsdene, on Thursday, October 8.
His neighbour rushed him to Kraaifontein Day Hospital, and he was later transferred to Mediclinic Cape Gate where he was declared brain dead.
At 11am the next day Friday, October 10, his pregnant mother, Anthea, was with him when his life support was switched off.
Kraaifontein police spokesman Captain Hein Hendricks said a 19-year-old woman, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth had been arrested on Friday, October 10, for the boy’s murder.
According to Captain Hendricks, the woman was arrested after a gun was found buried under her bungalow.
At the memorial service, Duran’s distraught family filled the front seats of the school hall while his Grade 5 peers surrounded them.
Videos and photographs were shown, depicting Duran as a jovial child who loved making people laugh.
Duran’s teacher, Anesta Smit, said he had always had a smile on his face. Although sometimes mischievous, like any other child, he had had a positive attitude towards life, she said.
“Duran loved playing rugby during break time,” she said.
Piet Visagie, Duran’s grandfather, said the family were battling to come to terms with his death.
He recalled the dreadful day Duran “was taken from them.”
“He went to the shop to buy a packet of chips and a bompie (iced juice). We were all at home when it happened, but the community helped by rushing Duran to hospital and that was the last time we saw him alive,” he said.
Mr Visagie said Duran would be missed for adding “smiles to their faces.”
“Duran was a good boy and always playing around,” he said.