THERE was an outpouring of shock, grief and condolences on social media this week, following the tragic fatal shooting of soccer coach Ronald Dangarembwa (35) in a botched hijacking on Sunday.
Described as an inspiration and a gentleman, Dangarembwa, a well-loved coach at St Henry’s Marist College and Stella Football Club, was killed in his car in Ferguson Road, Glenwood. He is survived by his wife and two children. Dangarembwa had a friend in the car with him who was also shot.
Mike Selikow, chairman of Stella Football Club, said it was with much sadness and shock that he had heard of the untimely passing of “Coach Ronnie” on Sunday.
“Ronnie was a much-loved and respected coach throughout the whole Durban Central football league and was certainly on the path to bigger and greater things within the game. He brought a passion to everything that he did and that passion was passed on to the children he coached as well as the parents. He felt that good sportsmanship and valuable life skills could not be separated from the game, and our children learnt from his example and will always be richer for it,” said Selikow.
Selikow said Dangarembwa was always ready with a big smile, laugh and a positive approach.
“This will probably be what we will miss most around the club, along with his fantastic coaching skills and voice which would resonate across two fields. That he will be sorely missed throughout Stella Football Club seems an understatement. Our thoughts are with his wife Annie, his daughter and son on their loss and we wish them much strength during this time. The gap that he leaves in their lives as well as ours is unmeasurable,” he said.
Dangarembwa was born in Zimbabwe on 3 November 1981 and started coaching at St Henry’s Marist College in 2008 where he quickly became an integral part of the St Henry’s family. He coached all age groups from as young as four to the 18-year-olds. He was an avid soccer supporter and his coaching skills were well-known in the Durban communit,y including his passion and dedication to the Stella Football Club.
“His infectious positive attitude towards life and people, saw him touching a generation of lives. Coach Ronnie, had the ability to transform any negative situation into a positive experience for all. His words to live by were ‘Worrying doesn’t stop tomorrow’s troubles, it only takes away today’s happiness.’ His passing will leave a void in the St Henry’s community that will never be filled again. We will miss his presence on the campus. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” said Chene Brent, head of College sports.
Heather Rorick from the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum, said Sunday 27 November turned out to be a very sad and traumatic time for many residents in and around Ferguson Road after Dangarembwa was killed in the botched hijacking.
“Straight after the shooting many residents rushed out to help the two victims. As word spread of this tragedy, more and more residents arrived to offer help and assistance in any way possible. When Mr Dangarembwa’s wife and brother arrived on the scene they became hysterical at what had happened. This is when the kindness of our community became so evident as people reached out to the family,” she said.
Rorick thanked residents who she witnessed going out of their way to assist and comfort family and friends of the deceased victim.
“I want to say thank you to members Shannon Naylor, Lindsay Thompson and Rozann van Rensburg from the Durban North Umhlanga Crisis Team for responding to my call for assistance, as there was only one counsellor available at the Glenwood Crisis Centre, and there were family members and close friends of Mr Dangarembwa who had arrived at the scene and were traumatised and hysterical. These three ladies were amazing and really helped me,” said Rorick.
She said appreciation must also go to the residents for their kindness and assistance to Dangarembwa’s family including Vianca Meyer and her family for rushing out of their home to assist the victims straight after the shooting happened, Carey Potgieter from the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum for all her help in running around to assist both family, friends and the counsellors, and Candice Elgar and Bob Timms for helping the family, for allowing Dangarembwa’s brother to phone and break the sad news to his mother and Dangarembwa’s daughter in Zimbabwe, and for buying food and refreshments for the family.
“To all SAPS members at the scene who helped Mr Dangarembwa’s family, especially W/O Sibiya and his team and Sgt Klompas, and to all other residents who handed out tissues, sugar water and offered words of kindness to the distraught family and Mr Dangarembwa’s friends, thank you. To Blue Security for being present and for all their assistance, we say thank you,” she said.
Rorick said it was very touching when Dangarembwa’s family requested all friends and residents who were at the scene to join them in prayer at the crime scene.
“A family member prayed and also asked God to protect our community. It was a very emotional tribute and had everyone in tears. I was very proud to be a resident of such an amazing community, and to be able to help and reach out to Mr Dangarembwa’s wife, brother, friends and soccer team members who arrived to show their respect. A very sad day in our community indeed,” she said.
Dangarembwa and a friend were in his vehicle when they were approached by hijackers in Ferguson Road at around 4pm on Sunday.
Garrith Jamieson from Rescue Care said paramedics arrived to find that Dangarembwa had sustained a single gunshot wound to his upper body and was declared deceased on the scene. The woman passenger sustained a gunshot wound to her leg. She was stabilised on the scene before being transported to hospital.
One of the hijackers was caught by community members and the police after fleeing the scene and fence hopping. He was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition. The other hijacker fled on foot and is still at large.
According to Capt Pumzile Makaula from Umbilo SAPS, this was one of many hijackings in the area within four days. “On Thursday night a resident was hijacked in Somerset Avenue, Glenwood, on Friday a woman was hijacked in Brettonwood Avenue and in another case on Friday, a hijacker was arrested in an attempted hijacking in Melbourne Road, Umbilo,” she said.
Makaula commended the officers from Umbilo SAPS for the arrest of the man who killed Dangarembwa.
