Missing Atang found dead on the N17
Atang graduated as a teacher from the University of Free State in April.
Kwa-Thema – With a promising future as a teacher and hopes of bringing change in his community, Atang Moima’s life was cut short.
His naked body was found along the N17 near Springs, in the opposite direction of his home in Kwa-Thema, badly injured in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Springs police spokesperson Sergeant Themba Tshabalala said they received a report about an accident involving a Toyota Quantum.
“The car was damaged on the left side of the windscreen, bumper and mirror with Atang lying on the ground with multiple injuries and bleeding from the head.
“We are investigating a case of culpable homicide. The suspects are yet to be arrested and we are calling on anyone with information that could help in the investigation to come forward,” he said.
The 24-year-old went missing on September 9 after attending the 16th Annual Ekurhuleni LGBQTI Pride March and after-party at Zig Zag Café.
He was last seen alive at the café’s gate trying to get a signal to order an e-hailing taxi and also asking other patrons for a lift home.
The deceased’s mother, Busi Moima, said she grew frantic when she could not get hold of her son on Sunday.
“I thought he would turn up but when we could not locate him even on Monday morning we decided to open a case of a missing person.
“While at the police station, I received an SMS from his kidnappers indicating that they have him and demanding a R10 000 ransom.”
On Tuesday the family went on a search for him and found his body at the Springs Government Mortuary, she added.
The mother said that they’re pinning their hopes of finding her son’s killers on the security camera footage of the car that picked him up at the establishment.
The family is pleading with residents to stop spreading lies that her son was gay.
“My son wasn’t gay, he attended the event with friends because of the line-up of entertainers and to support the local business.
“It is difficult enough that we are trying to make sense of what happened and having to also deal with such rumours,” added the mother.
Atang graduated as a teacher from the University of Free State in April.
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