Phoenix residents came in their numbers to pay their last respects for the five family members who burnt to death at their Whetstone, Phoenix, flat during the early hours of Monday, 1 November.
The funeral service was held at Bethsaida Ministries International in Phoenix last Friday, where people had to be allowed in on a rotational format due to the large crowd. The tragic death sent shockwaves throughout the community. Seven other residents of the flat managed to escape the flames last Monday. Elisha Naidoo, born on 5 December 1984, Jadine Naidoo born on 12 August 2008, Jordan Naidoo, born on 17 September 2013, Liam Naidoo, born on 3 July 2013, and Eldern Naidoo, born on 9 April 2018, perished in the fire after a room they had been sleeping in was set alight by a family member who remains in custody. The Phoenix Police are currently investigating a case of arson and murder.
Family and friends wept uncontrollably as they bid farewell to their loved ones. In her address at the church, family member, Sharleen Naidoo, said: “As we gather here, I wish it could have been under different circumstances yet we meet to say goodbye to our dearest loved ones. As we bid farewell, may we always remember the humble and beautiful souls they were, full of smiles and full of joy. We thank God for the precious time that he has allowed for these beautiful souls to be a part of our lives. Our hearts are filled with sadness and tears but our memories are filled with smiles and laughter of the good times that we shared over the years. Our lives will never be the same without you, I pray that our family and friends will remain strong in this sad period of our lives.”
Highstone Primary School educator and former educator of Jordan Naidoo, Mrs S Absar, said: “A tragedy of this nature is incomprehensible and we are at a real loss of words. Jordan, Jadine and Liam were learners at Highstone Primary School and when we heard of the news, every single one of us was affected and devastated. All three children were very respectful children and we will always have a special place in our hearts for them. They will never be forgotten and it is with a very sore heart that we bid them farewell. We pray that they are in a better place where there’s no pain and no hurt.” Learners of Highstone Primary recited a poem and shared a heartfelt tribute to their late friend, Jadine Naidoo, 13. “Even though I knew Jadine for only three years, we had shared so many memories together and I will never forget her. She has a special place in my heart,” said a learner.
Speaking to The Phoenix Tabloid, community activist, Alice Govender, stated: “It is really tragic and one has to ask the question why and how did this happen. One of the things I’ve been able to verify was the high unemployment levels in the family, the father was unemployed and found it very hard to make ends meet for his family and his extended family who had moved in as a result of that extended family also being in a financially difficult situation. The other thing that we need to tackle in our communities is substance abuse – whether it be chemical or alcohol abuse – I’m not saying this applies to this family but we do have a big problem in communities where it is far easier to lose our problems in a bottle of alcohol or drugs in order to dull the pain of hunger and poverty.” “As a community, we need to come together and lend a helping hand if we see a neighbour in difficulties, we can never again have another situation of familicide. This is not an easy situation to deal with because despite the victims having lost their lives in such a tragic way, it’s the trauma that’s been left behind. One has to wonder what had gone through the father’s mind for him to have reached the end of his tether to do such a thing. So before we all get angry and want mob justice, we have to look at the psychological and emotional issues that the father himself had been traumatised with for him to get to the stage,” added Govender.
Ward Councillor Samier Singh, who attended the funeral, said: “We are here today to pay testimony to an incredible family. We, as the community, must at every level condemn any form of violence especially to women and children. As we lay to rest a beautiful family to be in the arms of our beloved creator, I pray they are safe and released from the pain they have had to endure. We must all work together and do more to prevent such from happening in our communities. Such a tragedy must never take place again. The law must take its course and I will do everything in my might to address this. My deepest condolences to the family once again, and we thank the community and organisations that came together to support the families during this difficult time,” added Cllr Singh. Elisha Naidoo leaves behind two other children.
