A beloved taxi boss from Hanover Park has been laid to rest after he was gunned down in his driveway on Saturday night.
The heartbroken family of Mujaahid “Bubbles” Diedricks, 26, says they have been left with many questions after the senseless killing of a man who worked to improve life for laaities in Hanover Park.
Mom Ayeshia, 49, says she was attending a relative’s birthday party when she received a call saying Bubbles had been in an accident but got a skrik when she found her young son dead in the driveway.
She says the killers also shot his pitbull, Savage, who was seen not far from Mujaahid’s body.
“He was not robbed because he had his cellphone, his bank card and cash on him,” she explains.
“Bubbles got his nickname as a child because he had fat cheeks.
“His daddy, Magadien, 55, owned taxis on the Hanover Park to Cape Town route and he took over the business.
Mujaahid “Bubbles” Diedricks. Picture supplied
“He was single and didn’t have any children but he [lived] for his community and even started a soccer club with his friends called FC Hotspurs Gamang to keep the children off the streets. He was not a gangster, this [his murder] was out of jealousy.”
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut, confirms the case and says Bubbles was shot by three suspects who fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
“The circumstances are being investigated.”
On Sunday hundreds of mourners filled the family home ahead of his janaazah.
Abieda Manuel, a teacher at a local creche, says they are all devastated as Bubbles was a fantastic human being.
“Just last week he told me he is going to help Alfa Educare where I work by donating carpets and heaters because the children are getting cold.”
A 25-year-old man, who only identified himself as Suiker, says Bubbles had a soft spot for drug addicts and would feed them and even counsel them to seek help.
“For someone so young he achieved a lot and I am living proof about the heart he had.
“Whenever I was stout (naughty) he would come sort me out.
The killers also shot his pitbull, Savage. Picture supplied
“He never looked down on people and never gave them old food. Whatever he ate he would feed you no matter who you are,” said Suiker.
Ayeshia says her son could still be alive if cops did more to get rid of guns on the Cape Flats.
“I feel like the system has failed us and now another innocent person has died.”