Over 100 people attended a moving memorial service for 20-month-old Orderick Lucas, who was murdered and dumped in a drain in Eerste River.
Flowers and a cross marked the spot in Palm Park where his tiny body was found last week.
Colonel Florina Muller, from Kleinvlei SAPS, came to offer her condolences to the family on behalf of all cops.
Sunday, Bettie Niewoudt from Child Welfare SA said the community had to take the adage “my child is your child” to heart.
Little Orderick’s emotional family sat listening solemnly as hymns were sung and prayers read.
MOVING: Dozens attended service for Orderick. Photo: AYANDA NDAMANE AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
“We need to watch each other’s families and keep each other safe. It is our responsibility to take care of the community and not just say we are going to,” said Niewoudt.
The toddler, who was living with his grandmother, Cornelia Schippers, 50, went missing on Sunday, 24 March, but was only reported missing four days later.
His body was found in the drain by kids playing in the street a few metres from the ouma’s house.
Orderick was last seen by his drug addict mother Davideen, 28, and father Congolese national, Kounkou Dziendelet, when she left the child in the care of her friend, Mervin Volkwyn, as she went to hospital.
Community members had apparently assaulted the mom whom they accused of stealing a cellphone.
Volkwyn has since been arrested for kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice and will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The cause of death has yet to be established.