Aldino Presens and two of his friends had just returned from their usual scrap run to the scrapyard in the gang-infested part of Uitsig, when a gang passed them, took one look at the boys playing in front of the church in Uitsig Avenue and shot him.
The teen had stopped attending school a year ago, after his brother was also shot and killed. Residents say the boy had been collecting scrap to assist his family financially.
His mother Petronella was too emotional to speak to the Daily Voice on Tuesday and asked Pastor Adam Alexander to speak for the family.
The pastor was also emotional as he spoke of watching Aldino grow up in front of him.
He says Aldino was part of a youth programme the church had started.
KILLED: Aldino Presens, 14, was shot by gang
“He was an innocent boy. He did not deserve this cold-blooded murder. We started a development programme for our youth and they have remained mostly out of trouble. Just this one boy being murdered, makes my heart bleed. We cannot allow this, and we cannot save our next generation alone,” says Pastor Alexander.
Captain Nopaya Madyibi confirms the teen was shot dead.
“A murder case is under investigation with no arrest made yet,” says Captain Madyibi.