The bereaved family of the six-year-old boy from Clermont whose dismembered body was found last week after a harrowing weeklong search said they are still trying to come to terms with her untimely passing. The body of Asanda Mkhize, a Grade one learner from Tshelihle Primary was found at uMhlanga Bronze Beach last week.
Speaking to the Westville Weekly Gazette, family spokesperson and grandmother of the deceased, Penelope Mkhize said it has been a difficult period for the family. The distraught grandmother said Asanda will be laid to rest on Thursday, 9 June. She described Asanda as a good child who loved reading and singing.
“Asanda was a very quiet child, he loved reading and singing. He enjoyed playing toys indoors. His disappearance came as a shock because his mother used to take him to and from school, but on the day he disappeared, his mother had to go to Pinetown to do a Curriculum Vitae (CV) as she was job hunting. When she came back from town, she was tired and decided to rest for a little bit before going to fetch Asanda from school. When she went to the school to pick him up, she realised that Asanda was nowhere to be found,” said Mkhize.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said that on 23 May, around 4.50pm, an unknown body of a child was found floating uMhlanga Bronze Beach and an inquest docket was opened at Durban North SAPS for investigation.
“Currently the matter is still under investigation and no arrests have been made as yet,” she said
The incident sent shockwaves throughout the community, especially as the country was observing Child Protection Week. Ward 92 Councillor Masoka Mazibuko, in Clermont said that everyone is really upset about what happened to Asanda.
“One can only imagine the pain that his family is going through. As community member we need to start looking out for our kids,” said Mazibuko.
Mandla Sithole of the Clermont Constituency, who led the search for Mkhize, said that a community meeting was held with aims of tightening safety measures especially when learners are being escorted to and from school.
“It’s really difficult for the family in particular the mother of the child who is not well at all. It’s something else to lose a child but to lose a child in this manner is devastating,” said Sithole.
