Memorial for sisters shot dead
THE biological father of the three children found shot dead at their Montclair home last week wept yesterday as pupils of Yellowwood Park Primary School shared memories of his daughters.
The man, who sat with his brother and other relatives, cried throughout the service.
He refused to speak to the media, and asked not to be identifed.
His brother, Bheki Ngcobo, spoke on his behalf. He said the family was devastated and his brother was finding it extremely difficult to cope with the loss of his daughters.
“We are shattered. My brother is taking this very badly. We have not come to terms with our loss, it is too big to bare.
“The family has taken a decision not to say any more about the incident, but we are going to speak out at the funeral on Saturday,” he said.
“We, however, wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have been comforting us with prayers and support during this difficult time.”
Grade 6 pupil Thabiso, 11, and Khwezi, 7, in Grade 3, were gunned down along with their mother, Bongekile Ntenza – a Durban magistrate – and their teen sister, Fekeza, 16, a Grade 11 pupil at New Forest High School, by their stepfather, Sandile Mkhize last Wednesday.
Mkhize, a court interpreter, turned the gun on himself.
The bodies of the family were discovered by a relative who went to investigate when they could not be reached on the phone.
Principal Bongani Khanyi encouraged the distraught pupils to treasure and remember the good memories they had of the sisters.
He also could not hold back tears as he spoke of the phone call he received, informing him of the tragedy.
“I was at the house as the bodies were being taken out. I did not want to look. I wanted to remember them the way they were when they were alive: cheerful and bubbly girls who did exceptionally well in school.
“We thank God for their lives and for touching so many lives, young and old. The support we received from neighbouring schools and the Department of Education has been comforting,” said Khanyi.
The mother and daughters will be buried in Highflats, south-west of Durban, on Saturday.