Last weekend, Sweetness Phakathi was laid to rest, after she was shot and killed for her cellphone and cat. According to her colleagues, Sweetness was killed at the gate of her home, while she was standing there with her neighbour.
Two men approached them, enquiring if there is a room to rent on her property. She said “No”, after which the men told them that they wanted their cellphones and grabbed her cat. When she tried to go inside her house, she was shot and killed. All of this was witnessed by her children.
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Later on that day, community members managed to find one of the killers and stoned him to death. But it did not end there, as the friends of the dead thug returned to the home of Sweetness the next day and fired shots at the house, while her children and family were inside. This resulted in them running away from their home as they were scared that the men would come back to harm them.
Sweetness is survived by her seven children, the youngest being in Grade 2, and family. She was a employee of Laerskool Die Ruiter Primary.
These were their final words to her: “Your place is quiet and we miss your laughter and presence. You were aptly named Sweetness, as that is who you were. The sweetest, kindest person and you didn’t deserve to die the way you did. It was such a shock, it is still a shock. It is so unbelievable that we are just waiting for you to walk through the door.
Your Ruiter family, family and friends miss you terribly. We hope that you will rest in peace in the Father’s arms. To have known you as a vibrant, friendly person was such a privilege and we mourn your passing. You spoke of your future, studies and expectations the day before your passing. Your dreams for your children were the best a mother could have. This was stolen from you. Your trustworthiness was something to admire. Laerskool Die Ruiter Primary is indebted to you with regard to your absolute service to our school and learners. Rest in peace, dear Sweetness – you will be always be remembered.”
