Butchered rugby player laid to rest

MONTGOMERY PARK – A heartbroken partner’s pain was palpable as she wept during the funeral of Thulane Robert Popoyi on 14 October.

Bavs Govender, mother to Popoyi’s son Jayden, cried out for her partner of five years.

Her arms flailing and tears streaming down her face, Govender put flowers and pictures in Popoyi’s grave and watched with visible grief and pain as his casket was covered with soil.

“He was a wonderful man who will be greatly missed,” she said.

“Our son turns three next month. He is a true reflection of his dad. I pray that God will bring those who harmed him to justice… I love Rob with all my heart… I will remind Jayden of who he was…” she said.

Popoyi (also known as Robert Hendel) was hacked to death at Dollar Table bar/cocktail lounge in 7th street in Melville, on 5 October.

His guardian Colin Law said people have to come together to get rid of unlicensed businesses in Johannesburg.

As attendees at West Park Cemetery watched the casket being lowered into the grave through tear-strained eyes, numerous sniffs could be heard while the crowd sang softly.

Noxolo Popoyi wept as she watched her much-loved uncle being buried.

“You were a wonderful uncle who was always there for me and the family,” she said in a letter she wrote to her “malume”.

As some hundreds of family and friends filed out of St Columbus Church in Parkview, words of comfort were said to the distraught crowd.

Everyone who attended the funeral had nothing but good words to say about the deceased.

Popoyi’s aunt Nellie Duma conducted a traditional blessing during the memorial service.

“When I saw [him] two months ago, I never knew I was getting my last hug from him,” said an emotional Duma who came from Durban to attend the funeral.

Looking steadily at the mahogany coffin after taking a deep breath silently with an immobile face, Gareth Williams said, “Rob loved people, invested in friendships and valued family… when he got his first pay cheque he asked me to accompany him to the mall. When we got there I asked him what he wanted and he said ‘nothing’, he used all the money to buy his nieces clothes.”

Williams added that he learned how to live a life without regret from his friend Popoyi.

One may have thought everything ought to be as grey and foggy as the emotions of the crowd, or that it should have been cold and damp with silent air. But the birds still sang and the flowers still bloomed and one of Popoyi’s best friends said Popoyi’s life should be celebrated as he believes they will meet again.

However, there are two burning questions that have yet to be answered. Who killed him? And why?

According to Ward councillor Amanda Forsythe, Popoyi had multiple stab wounds and his chest had been hacked open.

The 29-year-old was out with his friends and disappeared after a while.

Forsythe had earlier informed that Popoyi was well-loved in the community.

“It was clearly murder because the attacker did not take anything from him – he still had his belongings on him,” she said.

Forsythe added that the turn-out at Popoyi’s memorial service and burial is an indication of what kind of person he was.