Tafelsig residents gathered at an open-air memorial service last week for a four-year-old boy who died en route to hospital after being knocked over by a car.
The service for Neco Daniels was hosted by Kingdom Christian Church at the corner of Hawaii and Vancover streets, in Tafelsig, on Wednesday January 5.
According to Mitchell’s Plain police spokesman Captain Ian Williams, Neco, his mother Keyna, and his baby brother were in an Uber taxi on Friday December 31 at about 8.30pm.
Ms Daniels got out of the car to put the baby inside the house.
”While she took the baby inside the house, the four year old jumped out of the Uber and was knocked by an oncoming vehicle,” he said.
Captain Williams said a man, 50, was questioned and that a case of culpable homicide was being investigated.
“The docket is going to be referred to a senior public prosecutor for a decision,” he said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact investigating officer Detective Sergeant Momelezi Mvimbi of Mitchell’s Plain Crime Investigation Department on 060 441 3517.
The service was led by head pastor and community activist Leon Jacobs, who told his story of being on drugs, killing his brother and living a life without Christ.
“My mother never knew that I would become a pastor.
“Just like Neco’s mother never knew she would raise a king,” he said.
Pastor Jacobs said God had closed many people’s eyes to open more people’s eyes in living righteous lives.
He prayed and cautioned residents to stay away from substance abuse and gangsterism.
“God has a plan for your life,” he said.
Tafelsig councillor Norman Adonis said residents should stop what they are doing to harm their community.
He encouraged them to speak out against crime, whether it was substance abuse or gangsterism.
“I am warning you. Stop killing my community. Stop killing the community, your sisters, your mothers, your nieces, your nephews,” he said.
Mr Adonis, who grew up in Tafelsig, said he saw the pain in mothers’ faces and that they wanted help. He had hoped that the prayer service would be a turning point for those wanting to change their lives.
“If this is not what you want to do then come speak to me or the pastor and we will help you,” he said.
To Neco’s mother, he said: “God has received an angel. He planted the seed and you reared him. God knows the reason. There are many unanswered questions but we feel your pain and we want to support you.”