'WHERE'S THE DEATH PENALTY?'

HANOVER Park residents were full of raw emotions as toddler Qadir Boer was laid to rest on Friday, while aunties called for the death penalty to be imposed on his suspected shooters.

Two suspects, both aged 17, made a brief first court appearance in camera at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court, which heard the teenagers are facing charges of murder, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

Little Qadir, three, tragically lost his life in the early hours of the morning last Wednesday, after being admitted to hospital the previous day. 

Qadir was shot through his head by a stray bullet during a gang battle between the Ghetto Kidz and Incredibly Gifted Bastards (IGBs).

Aunties from Hanover Park rallied outside the court, expressing their anguish and frustration that the seuntjie’s life was taken in such a senseless way.

One gatvol aunty, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Voice that as a mother of two kids, she feels for Qadir’s family.

She said: “I don’t know how the others feel, or how they deal with it or sleep at night, but as a mother I feel it. I don’t think bail is an option, the only thing we want is justice for a child that could’ve been mine.

“We need justice, not only for Qadir – an injury to one is an injury to all. I am heartbroken as I am standing in front of Athlone Court. We will get justice, if it is next week or whenever we are going to get it.

"We were only a few people here, but in the future when more people come, justice will be served. Another thing that irks me is that there is no death penalty. Where is it?

“If we still had it, our communities would be much better. But we have all these rapists, the killers – it’s too much. Why must we watch 24/7 outside, we cannot even let our children play outside the door or in the yard.”

The case was postponed to 17 October for bail information and shortly thereafter Qadir’s janazah took place at Hangklip Court.

Mense from the community supported the family as they laid him to rest.

Western Cape MEC for Community Safety and Police Oversight Anroux Marais has extended her condolences to the Boer family.

Marais said: “This senseless violence must stop. My heart breaks for the family of this young boy, and for all families who have lost children to gang violence.

“These thugs  show a total disregard for the very communities that raised them. Our children are paying the price for their callous acts.

“The investigation must go beyond bringing these suspects to book. We need to know who enabled these young individuals to get their hands on a firearm.

“The source of that weapon must be tracked down, and must be held accountable. It is tragedies like this that highlight the need for SAPS to be better resourced.”