The little boy from Delmore, who was only turning five in September, was laid to rest at the Van Dyk Park cemetery, following the funeral service at the stadium.
Politicians, family members, friend, church leaders, activists and ordinary citizens bade an emotional farewell to Taegrin.
Among the guests of honour was Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who described the hijackers as heartless, and added that the boy’s death has united the community and the country.
“The prince of peace has united this community in a way that was never seen before in the past 20 years. Indeed the prince has united our country,” said Makhura during the boy’s funeral service.
Among the thousands of mourners who were there to paid their last respects to the boy, was the mother of a Bronkhorstspruit boy, Mongezi Phike, who was kidnapped during another hijacking recently.
“They weren’t as lucky as me, and I am here to say sorry for that. Even Mongezi is saying sorry,” said the mother, Lizzy Phike.
Some of the mourners wore white T-shirts, bearing Taegrin’s face, with the message ‘enough is enough, may his soul rest in peace’.
Friends and family stood around the light brown coffin, which was surrounded by pictures of the boy, car toys and flowers.
As the coffin was lowered, friends and relatives wept. With her husband (Elwin) by her side, even Taegrin’s mother, Chantal Morris, who always displayed a brave face since her son died, could not hold back her tears.
At the graveside, dozens of doves were released as a sign of peace, while about a hundred of balloons were released as a sign of joy.
Morris died after being dragged for a long distance behind a hijacked car on July 19.
His body was found at 39 Market Street, near the Boksburg Lake with his parents’ car.
Community leader Hein April, said the Reiger Park community would never be the same after Morris’ funeral.
“The two incidents have highlighted the abhorrent crime against children in the country.
At the funeral service, speakers also called on the thousands of people who were at the service to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement agencies to ensure that drug dealers, hijackers and other criminals are found and driven out of the communities.
According to Khweza, apart from the man who was taken in for questioning, no arrests had been made by Saturday, July 26. – @FanieBoksburg
