Kersligseremonie ter nagedagtenis aan Megan Griesel in Lydenburg

Ná die skietdood van Megan Griesel (20) het haar familie en vriende op 27 Oktober ’n kersligseremonie ter nagedagtenis aan haar gehou.

Die groep het om 18:00 by Hoërskool Lydenburg byeengekom. Griesel het in 2021 daar  gematrikuleer.

Op Sondag 29 Oktober het daar ook vir haar ’n lewensvieringsdiens by die NG Lydenburg-Suid plaasgevind. Ds. Fred Wilson het Korintiërs 13 as teksvers gebruik.

Lees ook: Steelburger News 02 November 2023

“Die liefde bedek alles, dit glo alles en dit verdra alles. Nie net tydens ‘n sprokiesverhaal, soos wat Megan se kort lewe was nie, maar ook in die donkerste tye van hierdie wêreld. Ons lewe in ’n gebroke wêreld. Megan se dood kry skielik betekenis en dit bewys God se liefde is groter as alles wat hierdie gebroke wêreld bied,” het hy gesê.

Sy is op 21 Oktober omstreeks 00:40 koelbloedig onder kruisvuur doodgeskiet toe ’n vermeende roofbende besig was om die Lydenburg Convenience Engen, Guest Garage en Checkers Liquor te beroof. Die voertuig waarin sy gery het, ’n Toyota Hilux, is 27 keer raakgeskiet.
Die paramedici het op die toneel bevestig dat sy opslag dood is.

Griesel se pa, Stephan, het etlike minute voor sy by ’n verkeersirkel tussen die twee motorhawens tussen die rowers ingery het, nog met haar op haar selfoon gepraat. Hy het vir sy dogter by hul huis in die Sterkspruit Falcon Estates gewag, sowat 400 m van die skietvoorval. Sy was op pad huis toe nadat sy saam met vriende by ’n restaurant gekuier het, en het haar pa gebel het om hom mee te deel dat sy onderweg is. Hy het dadelik na die verkeersirkel toe gejaag toe hy die skote hoor en vermoed sy dogter is daar naby.

Sers. Cave Dilebo, woorvoerder van die Lydenburg SAPS, het bevestig dat daar nog geen verdagtes in verband met die moord of rooftogte aangekeer is nie.

Letters/Briewe

Pompies Ledwaba of the Mashishing Civic Coalition writes:
I write this letter drowned in pain, sorrow and anger over the death of the innocent and defenceless soul, Megan Griesel (20), by heavily armed dirty thugs in Lydenburg.
The pain reminded me of the profound utterances made by Nelson Mandela: “There’s no pain on Earth equivalent to parents burying their child, regardless of race, colour, creed or sex.”
This untimely death serves to remind all South Africans that no one is safe in this country. Our country is known for its general lawlessness and hopelessness. South Africa today is the murder capital of the entire world, primarily because every year, 12 000 people are killed.
Male and female police officers are being killed in daylight, human trafficking runs rampant and criminals are unafraid of being arrested or prosecuted.
Criminals are a law unto themselves, with foreign zama-zamas terrorising communities and destroying our God-given natural habitat.
Police officers in South Africa are overwhelmed by criminals, some going to the extent of befriending them out of fear.
South Africa is a banana republic, and I pray those who are responsible for killing this innocent young woman will be arrested.
In closing, may the good Lord heal this family and may her soul rest in peace.

Sonja Boshoff, DA member of the national council of provinces, writes:
The residents of Mashishing and Lydenburg are currently facing a crisis regarding crime, which needs immediate attention.
A motion was presented by the DA to the National Council of Provinces (NCO). It was accepted during the NCO meeting in Cape Town, and the crime in our town is of the highest priority in parliament.
After the success of this motion being passed, it is necessary that the public become aware of its contents.
As a service to the community of the town, it is of the best interest that this motion be published after the death of Megan Griesel (20).
1. The DA notes with concern that once again Lydenburg, a town in the Thaba Chweu constituency, was targeted on October 19 at about 00:40 when suspects bombed and robbed both the Quest Garage at The Heads Centre and the Engen Garage, a mere 400m from The Heads Centre;
2. The party further notes that not only were the convenience shops robbed, but the liquor store at Checkers, situated at The Heads Centre, was also looted, and the robbers got away with boxes of liquor;
3. Again, it notes that in May 2023, the town of Graskop was held hostage when armed robbers targeted the SPAR and Tops outlets, the Shell convenience shop and the ATM at these premises and got away with about R30 000 in cash and an undisclosed amount of goods.
4. It notes that these shops are a mere 500m from the local SAPS office, with SAPS officers only arriving at the scene of the crime an hour after the incidents.
5. Further notes indicate that the town of Graskop was cut off from the outside world as these criminals closed off the three exits from town;
6. Again, is notes that in August 2023, the Total Garage and Steers convenience shop in Lydenburg was targeted, and the robbers got away with an undisclosed amount of money and goods.
7. It further notes that, to date, no report has been received from the SAPS regarding the outcome of any investigations into these attacks;
8. It notes that a young girl, Megan Griesel, was fatally wounded during the attack on Friday night, when the criminals mistook her for a security company doing their nightly rounds;
9. It calls upon the provincial police to speed up their investigations into these attacks and to further request extra manpower and vehicles for this constituency to ensure visible policing in order to minimise these attacks and further loss of lives; and
10. It requests that this house observes a moment of silence for the family and friends of Megan Griesel, who was senselessly robbed of fulfilling any of her future dreams.