Gang violence victim, 10, laid to rest

Cape Town 160206 - Jayden Smith’s coffin is carried out during his funeral in Parkwood. Jayden died after being hit by a stray bullet outside his home in Parkwood. Picture by ASHRAF HENDRICKS, Reprter ASANDA SOKANYILE

Cape Town 160206 - Jayden Smith’s coffin is carried out during his funeral in Parkwood. Jayden died after being hit by a stray bullet outside his home in Parkwood. Picture by ASHRAF HENDRICKS, Reprter ASANDA SOKANYILE

Published Feb 7, 2016

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Hundreds of mourners in Parkwood on Saturday laid to rest 10-year-old Jayden Smith, one more Cape Flats child slain in gang-related violence.

Jayden was shot in the back as he walked into the yard of his home after returning from buying bread. He was gunned down during a shootout between rival gangs, the Americans and Junky Funky Kids, about two weeks ago.

The boy died in his mother’s arms on the way to hospital.

Family, neighbours and his schoolmates attended an emotional funeral.

During the service, Jayden’s grandfather, Patrick Boltman, said parents should “stop defending children who are involved in gangs. My grandson was not a gangster, but he was killed by gangsters”.

“I ask that parents love their children enough not to cover for them if they are involved in gangsterism and keep those who are not caught up in gangs close so that they do not fall into the clutches of gangs who kill our innocent children.”

Jayden’s best friend and classmate, Moegamad Noor, broke down. He would miss Jayden: “He has been my best friend since Grade 1. We played soccer and used to draw together all the time. I really miss him and I am sad that I will never see him again.”

Another of his devastated classmates, Devina September, said: “My heart aches because of the way he died, his death is very painful to us because he was our friend. We are always scared because the gangs are everywhere and they are always shooting.

“Jayden was a very nice person and we had fun when he was around. Sometimes he didn’t do his schoolwork and he would just sit and draw because that is what he loved and the teacher would shout at him and the rest of us would laugh. We are really sad that the gangs shot Jayden.”

His grieving mother, Chantel Boltman, told Weekend Argus her family was living in fear as her son’s killers had threatened them “because we saw them, we know who they are. They live in the area. They already killed my son, shot at my husband – for witnessing the shooting. What more do they want from us?” she said.

Two suspects have appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. Geviro Petersen, 24, and Enrico Harrison, 19, are in custody awaiting a bail application hearing. Facing two charges of attempted murder and one of murder, they are to reappear on February 18.

While the funeral was happening, about 40 people met at Manenberg police station before marching with a #GangsterismMustFall banner down Klipfontein Road to the Athlone Civic centre.

Gangsterism, said Washiela Samuels of Hanover Park, “affects us all, and these gang shootings bring back bad memories for us, who have lost children to gang violence, especially knowing that our children were not even gangsters”.

Her son was shot last year while walking home. She pleaded for “communities to stand together and fight gangsterism and drive drug dealers out.”

A memorandum of action, directed to Mayor Patricia de Lille and accepted by Elgan Fortune, mayoral office community facilitator, called for additional police and that Metropolitan Police patrol “Cape Town’s ghettos and slums”.

 

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Sunday Argus

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