Courtney’s birthday marked
THERE wasn’t a dry eye in the house at the birthday memorial service of Courtney Pieters.
Yesterday marked slain Courtney’s crown birthday and, what should have been a joyous occasion, was instead celebrated with a memorial service.
The toddler, whose body was found on a rubbish heap in Bofors Circle, Epping Industria, would have celebrated her fourth birthday yesterday.
Her mother, Juanita Pieters, sobbed as a group who gathered to support the family sang the gospel hymn, “You will always be a child in God’s eyes”.
A birthday party will be hosted on Saturday afternoon for Courtney.
Speaking briefly to the media, Pieters said: “It’s not a nice feeling at all. This morning I just lay and thought about her. We really miss her so much. But through God’s will everything is possible.”
To commemorate her short life, a memorial service was held at their family home from where she went missing about four months ago.
The family has also confirmed that they will move into the home promised to them by President Jacob Zuma before the end of this month.
Courtney went missing on May 4 from her Pluto Street home in Salberau. A nine-day search ensued before her body was found in the industrial area.
The man arrested for her rape and murder, Mortimer Saunders, was a tenant in the family home for three years and was a childhood friend of Courtney’s father.
The State confirmed at his last court appearance that they intend to take the matter to the Western Cape High Court.
Saunders will be back in the dock in October and remains in custody.
Meanwhile, the community of Parkwood is mourning the death of a 7-year-old boy who was shot and killed in gang crossfire on Sunday evening.
Hyde Park Primary pupil Ezra Daniels, 7, was shot in the neck during a drive-by shooting.
Ezra’s mother, Desiree, said: “I am still very traumatised and sad. But what can I do now? My baby is already gone.”
She describes her last born of four children as a very jolly child.
“I always told him he is my laatlammetjie (youngest by a number of years). He was always very active and playful. I heard the bullet was meant for somebody else but I’m not sure who,” she said.
Recalling the last minutes of her son’s life, Desiree said: “I saw him have his last moments. He just lay there and rolled his eyes back a few times. He couldn’t talk.
“I want whoever it was that killed my son to stay in jail and never come out,” she said.
The family are yet to confirm funeral arrangements.
Residents said the area was still “tense and volatile” after the murder.
In response to the incident on Sunday, residents started a riot, stoning vehicles and members of the police, and burning debris.
Community worker and activist Paul Philips said: “The area is still very tense at the moment. People are fed up with the violence in our communities and ripping the innocent away.
“This is where we draw the line with government because nothing is being done. We want to deal with gangsterism outside the scope of government.”
Grassy Park CPF spokesperson Philip Bam said the community is “understandably upset and frustrated”.
“Another child’s life is snatched away because of illegal firearms in the area. SAPS attended to the situation having to face an angry crowd who wanted to deal with one of the suspects detained by the police. The police vehicle was attacked with a pickaxe handle damaging the windscreen and body of the vehicle,” Bam said.
Despite understanding the frustration of residents, Bam urged them to stay calm and not to take their frustration out on police.
“We understand the frustration of the community as they have been buckling under gang violence… But damaging the very resources that must help us is not the kind of response expected from responsible citizens.”
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said four arrests had been made in connection with the murder and the suspects remain in custody.
Van Wyk confirmed that the two officers attacked during the community’s riot action had received medical care.
More than 21 children have been killed in the Western Cape since the start of the year.