Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Keeping Stacey-Lee’s legacy alive by giving children dignity
THE cousin and mother of murdered 13-year-old Stacey-Lee Philander are giving children their dignity back in their communities.
It has been nearly 21 years since Stacey-Lee was hacked to death with a panga a few metres from Stephen Road Primary School in Lotus River in August 2001.
Stacey-Lee was in Grade 7 and was described by family as a loving child who was a Sunday school teacher – though in her youth, she played the flute and had a zest for life.
Johannes Ludwig, who had been
obsessed with Stacey-Lee and stalked her since the age of 9, handed himself over to police and pleaded guilty. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment.
Two years ago, Lindsay Philander, Stacey-Lee’s cousin, 36, decided to dedicate her birthday to children in need.
Since then she has successfully begun her NPO, called Human Dignity Restoration Foundation, which aims to dedicate Stacey-Lee’s legacy by giving back to the same communities where she once walked.
Sanitary pads, toiletries and stationery is what gives children dignity, believes Philander.
She had approached Stacey-Lee’s mother, Gail Knight, who gave her her blessing and has since joined her on donation handovers at the primary school her daughter once attended.
“The heart and love Stacey had, she was a child who never got the chance to see life,” said Lindsay.
“I am restoring and giving back dignity by placing shoes on a child’s feet; when a child needs a pad at school, or stationery.”
She said she aimed to help communities where after-care programmes were not being funded by local government.
Philander said that she would never forget the day her cousin was murdered.
“It is about remembering Stacey-Lee’s legacy, who she was,” she said.
“The last conversion we had was when I was doing her hair and she said she wanted to move away because of that man. She had been living with her granny at the time and I remember (visiting the scene), how he had hacked her from behind and my grandfather had picked up her hair pieces.
“There are so many like her who are also forgotten, such as Dane Darries, Keelyn Clayton and Sasha-Leigh Crook, who were all murdered.
“Last year in , when it was Stacey’s birthday, we donated to and assisted Marlene’s soup kitchen.”
Knight said she missed her daughter every day and the NPO had breathed new life into the lives of others.
“There is not a day that goes by that we do not speak about Stacey,” she said.
“She could blow the flute and was in the choir and, although she was not confirmed, she taught the children Sunday School.
“Lindsay is giving back, even to the school where Stacey was. She is doing an amazing job.”
HDRF is running a stationery drive for after-care organisations in their community between April and June 2022, and is seeking assistance with: A4 writing books, blue/black pens/pencils, erasers, ream paper, pritt, coloured pencils, mathematics sets, scissors, rulers, reading books, although any donation is welcome.