Wentworth families of murdered children seek justice

TWENTY, 17 and 15.

This is how old three victims were when they were murdered in Wentworth. The brutality may have ended for them, but their families have left the horrid images that haunt them daily. Furthermore, there has been no closure nor justice – cases remain cold and unsolved.

Twelve years ago, Coleen Heslop had a knock on her door that every parent dreads on 8 August 2008. Her 17-year-old daughter Tersia’s body had been discovered at the Ogle Road Sports Grounds. She was called to identify the body.

“The day we buried her, my husband took my hand and placed it on Tersia’s face. Her temples felt dented like she was hit with a blunt object and they had strangled her. I could not understand because my daughter was a big girl, she could handle herself. But, I don’t know how many people hit her. Her entire body was black, blue and purple. The only thing I want to know is why. What did she do or know for the killer to take her life?” she questioned.

Three years ago, another mother would be plagued with the same trauma and questions. Carmel Ward’s son, Junaid Walljee, sustained life-threatening stab injuries to the head. He succumbed to his injuries 53 days later. He was only 20-years-old. The incident happened on Monday, 29 October 2018.

“My son was covered in blood. They had cut his ear, beaten him on the head with a blunt object and stabbed him on the head. His brain matter was all over the bed, full of blood around him. What a scene to walk into” recalled the heartbroken mother.

“All I want to know from the people who did what they did is why? My son was not a gangster. He was not a violent child nor was involved or affiliated with any gang. Why would you be so inhumane and do something like that to him?”

“Do you not care what you have done to my family and how your selfish act causes us to mourn daily for a life that is no more? Junaid would have been 23 on Wednesday, 30 June, and now as it draws closer to his birthday, a sense of dread fills my heart even more.”

“He may have been wrestling with addiction, but he found himself in church every weekend and was an active member. At the time of his passing he had come out of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) two months prior,” she said.

Two Sundays ago, 15-year-old Joren Jacobs was the victim of a drive-by shooting at the corner of Tifflin and Victor Lawler roads at about 13:00. It was allegedly a case of mistaken identity. A gunshot changed his family forever. Sunday, 13 June, is forever marred with terrible memories for them.

“I was about to dish our Sunday lunch as Joren had gone to the tuck shop to buy a cool drink for us. We heard a single gunshot go off, within seconds people came screaming for us to go to the road because our child had been shot,” recalled the family’s spokesperson.

He was rushed off to Wentworth Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. His family is still trying to make sense of the tragedy.

“The police came to the hospital for questioning and so far two arrests have been made. I am not coping at all. I cannot come to terms with the fact that our child is gone. He was just a baby who had so many dreams for our little family. He was such a loving, caring and passionate child. He loved school and history was his favorite subject. Joren brightened up everyone’s day with and his smile. It was just too infectious. He is missed so much by everyone, especially me. I honestly don’t know where to start picking up the pieces of my life.”

Wentworth police could not provide comment at the time of publication, however, it confirmed a report would be made available in time.