Family and friends of slain UWC student, Jesse Hess, hosted a special celebration over the weekend to honour her memory ahead of what would have been her 21st birthday.
As loved ones anxiously wait for her murder trial to commence at the Western Cape High Court next year, they hosted a service and handed out care packs at the Ark City of Refuge shelter in Faure.
The death of the young theology student and her 85-year-old oupa, Chris Lategan, sparked an outcry when their bodies were found on 30 August 2019 after an alleged house robbery.
Their brutal murders made headlines and David van Boven, 31, and Tasliem “Boontjie” Ambrose, 37, were busted and charged with two counts of murder, robbery and fraud for using Jesse’s bank card after she was murdered.
Reverend Deon Thöle from the Matroosfontein Church of the Nazareth said as Jesse would have celebrated her 21st birthday today, the congregation wanted to do something special to honour her memory.
“Ashley Londt was the youth pastor at the time of Jesse’s death and she was very active in the church,” he said.
“Her 21st birthday was something she never got the chance to celebrate and the youth came up with the idea to create care packs for young women at the shelter.
“They collected donations of basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste and other essentials as well as something sweet for other young women.”
The group also visited her grave site at Maitland Cemetery and on Sunday hosted a special service in her honour.
“Jesse played a big role in the lives of many congregants.
“We hosted a special service for her where we handed a 21st key to both her mother and father with her picture and a short message.”
Jesse’s father, Lance, says it has been a difficult time for the family.
“One day before she died, I picked her up for church and asked her what she wanted for her 21st birthday,” he recalled.
“It was a day that I as a father was really looking forward to and so I wanted to know from her what she wanted. She told me she didn’t want a big party, she just wanted something small for the family and friends.
“Now she is not here to celebrate her milestone. This was a way for us to honour her memory and the person she was.
“It has been very difficult for the family with the trial being postponed to [1 February] next year.”