AS THE angels jostle to welcome the six year old Khayalethu Magadla, who was found lying unemotional after weeks of searching, to his family, friends and community, it’s a relief they will now bury their son.
Khayalethu was last seen playing with other kids in Dlamini, Soweto, after he fell into a manhole.
After hours, days and weeks of intensive search, his tiny body was found at the Eldorado Park Cemetery wastewater plant on Saturday, 21 days after.
The family has confirmed the burial will take place in the Eastern Cape, as per their culture.
The memorial service will be held at 10:00 on Friday at Dlamini 1, Makhasi Street in Soweto.
For the distraught family, they will now get closure and that the healing process could begin.
The search for Khayalethu also resulted in some of the water pumps turned off in some parts of Soweto, had high tech robotics and sniffer dogs on a frantic search and at times it was called off.
At the insistence of his father the search resulted in identifying his son, finally.
Derrick Mngomezulu, family spokesperson and community leader said the ordeal had taken its toll on the family, particularly Khayalethu’s mother.
“She now speaks to people and she is able to move around, unlike before.”
Mngomezulu, recounted the reaction when they heard that Khayalethu had been found and still wearing the same clothes.
“The emergency management service officials came to the family to inform them that they had found a child who matched Khaya’s description and had the same clothes that he was wearing.
“They escorted the family to the split chamber. When the police were done with their job, the family was called forward to identify the body and they confirmed it was Khaya.
“Their reactions were like any other parents’ reactions. They were torn and hurt,” he said, adding that “relief then set in”.
The family also thanked everyone from community leaders in Soweto, politicians and the Mayor of Johannesburg, the EMS, Joburg Water, for having dedicated their time and resources for rallying behind them to find their son.
Khayalethu (literally meaning our home) who was supposed to celebrate his birthday, will now rest eternally in Peace as he goes ‘home’ to his final resting place in EC.
From SLM, we say robalang ka ntho madi a tshologe boMagadla!
Image (Gone way too soon. The six year old Khayalethu Magadla will be laid to rest in EC this weekend).
