Instead of celebrating her child’s birthday this week, murdered Saadiqa Lippert’s mother visited her grave.
The little girl would have turned seven on Wednesday, a day before her alleged killers, Samier Slamang and Waylan Botha, appeared in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court.
The little girl was shot in the driveway of her grandmother’s Bokmakierie home in May, during a suspected gang attack.
She was hit in her stomach and died in hospital the next morning.
It’s believed her uncle was involved in drugs, which cops believe was the motive.
Slamang and Botha, who were both known to Saadiqa, were arrested hours after she died.
They appeared briefly in court yesterday where the matter was postponed to September 27 for further investigation.
The duo were denied bail at their previous appearance.
Community members and family of the victim filled the seats in Court F.
Sat
Speaking outside court, mom Chimeiz Francis says her daughter’s birthday was an emotional affair.
“I went to her grave (at the Doringhoogte cemetery in Johnson Road) and I just sat there,” she said.
“She would have been seven. This year she wanted to have a Frozen-themed party and we were going to have it on Saturday,” she adds sadly.
The mom said she “is taking it day by day”, and says she has become “very protective” of her other children.