Hundreds of mourners gathered in Parkwood yesterday morning to say goodbye to 11-year-old Nahemia Classen who died after being hit by a bullet during a gang shooting.
The body of the Grade 5 learner from Parkwood was placed in a tiny white coffin and residents lined up at his family’s home in Parker’s Walk for the viewing shortly before 9am.
Nahemia was shot in the head during an attempt by two alleged members of the Mongrels gang to kill a member of the Six Bobs gang.
Residents say the boy was struck by a stray bullet as Christopher Kemp, 22, and Shaun Motaung, 28, opened fire on a rival skollie.
Nahemia was rushed to Red Cross Children’s Hospital where he died after being declared brain dead.
The family had a private ceremony at the church and the cemetery.
Speaking to the Daily Voice after laying his son to rest at Klip Road Cemetery, father Alan Bent, 40, said they are very grateful to the community for their support.
“We are exhausted and his six siblings are very emotional. The family and the community will be petitioning the courts to deny bail.”
Kemp and Motaung appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court last Friday where Kemp revealed that he would not be applying for bail.
This after he confessed and told detectives that the day before Nahemia was killed members of the Six Bobs gang had shot at him and he came to Parker’s Walk to take revenge, but missed.
Motaung has denied being part of the shooting and returns to court today for his bail information hearing.