“Mummy, I can’t see, it’s black.”
These were the last words uttered by a teen boy from Heideveld after he was robbed and stabbed in the heart while crossing a railway line on
Sunday.
Heartbroken relatives of Ronaldinho Reynolds, 15, have been left traumatised after watching the boy, who went to sell pigeons for bread money, struggle to breathe after the attack.
Mom, Rene, 49, said she still cannot believe the Grade 9 pupil from Heideveld High School is dead and she has not slept since his death.
Cousin, Cecelia Dolphin, 24, says Ronaldinho left home on Sunday morning after she sent him to the shop several times.
“He went up and down for me and then left home. Him and his friends catch pigeons that they sell to a man in Gugulethu and they get money,” says Cecelia.
“He always did that to bring home money for his
mother for bread money and so on.
“We believe he was robbed also because he had no money on him.”
HEARTSORE: Mom Rene Reynolds and cousin Cecelia Dolphin in shock.
Cecelia says they could not believe their eyes when they saw Ronaldinho wounded.
Rene says: “From what we could see, he was stabbed once right through the heart. There wasn’t much blood as he was bleeding internally. He still spoke to us.
“He was talking and I was with him. Then he said, ‘Mummy, I can’t see, it’s black.’”
The teen was rushed to
Heideveld Emergency Centre where his mother says doctors did all they could to save him, but he died at 4pm.
Acting police station
commander, Colonel Sanele Zama, confirms the case and says: “Manenberg detectives are now investigating a murder case and we are appealing to any witnesses to come forward about the suspects.”
PIGEONS: Boy sold birds to man in Gugs. Picture: Illustration
Rene says she has since been to Salt River Mortuary to identify his body, but the family does not have funds to bury the teen. They plan to lay him to rest on 2 November.
“We need help with the funeral because I am unemployed,” the heartbroken mom says.
Any witnesses of the murder are asked to call Constable Zeleni on 082 220 4113 or to assist the family, call Cecelia on 063 346 7654.