The mother of a 12-year-old boy who was found hanging from a fence at a Cape Flats train station believes he was brutally beaten and then murdered.
Police who discovered the body of little Nathaniel “Tenni’” Davids said he had committed suicide.
But his family says the child’s “hands and feet were tied up”, and he had a noose tied around his neck.
He was found dangling from a vibracrete fence near Netreg Station on Friday just after 2.40pm by police who were on patrol.
Cops have since opened an inquest docket into his death.
But some Bonteheuwel residents believe the death may be gang-related.
Ward councillor Angus McKenzie says messages circulating on the social chat group Outoilet, which claim Nathaniel had been murdered, have been handed over to the police.
“It is all speculation at this stage that there is gang involvement, it is all based on messages which were received from residents,” he adds.
Nathaniel, who was in Grade 5 at Bramble Way Primary School in Bonteheuwel, was last seen on his way to a nearby shop to buy biscuits.
His distraught mother, Louise Davids, 43, and aunt Diana Davids, 47, say the little boy did not attend school on Friday.
“He was playing with his ball and his dog, Tessa, in the street the whole morning,” says Louise.
“It was just before 2pm when I sent him to buy wafers.
“A man who had come from work stopped at our home and asked us what Nathaniel had been wearing.
“We said he had on a green sweater, Nike takkies and a tracksuit pants.
“He said a boy who was hanging at the station wore that kind of clothing.”
The women rushed to the scene, but were not allowed to view the boy’s body, which police had covered with a white sheet.
TRAGIC SCENE: Tenni’s body was found hanging from a fence by two patrolling cops. CREDIT: Jack Lestrade
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk confirms an inquest docket has been opened for investigation and that a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
While police don’t suspect foul play, Louise believes her son had been murdered.
“I don’t care what the people are saying on the outside. I believe this is murder and God doesn’t sleep,” the heartbroken mother of four says.
“My child’s hands and feet were tied with the string you find on a keyring (lanyard), and that was also around
his neck.
“You tell me how is it possible that he could hang himself when there was nothing underneath his feet and how could he do it if his feet and hands were tied?”
Diana admits Nathaniel was no angel, but says he was not a gangster: “No child in this house belongs to a gang, (but) he was stout, yes.”