The little eight-year-old girl was shy, friendly and quick to smile. She had a bright future ahead of her.
Then she vanished, and her lifeless body was eventually found discarded in a stormwater drain outside Worcester.
It is not surprising that the tidal wave of grief and anger that has come in the wake of the murder of young Tazne van Wyk has been overwhelming.
The community has had enough. Alleged dens have been torched; the president has visited to pay his respects.
Of course, real change has to be effected and decisive action taken. But none of that will bring Tazne back.
On Saturday, the spinning community convoyed to the house of Tazne’s devastated parents, Terence Manuel and Carmen van Wyk.
Organised by Eddie Rasta, a legendary spinner and a character synonymous with keeping his ’hood focused on positivity through the motorsport, the convoy arrived at the Van Wyks’ Connaught Estate home to share the grief, hand over a bouquet of flowers as well as a collection to help the family out financially through this indescribably sorrowful time.
POSITIVE SPIN: Drivers brought a bit of relief to Connaught Estate children. Picture: Shahiem Bell.
Community elder Oom Dawie van Wyk (not a relative) handled the proceedings. He spoke from the heart, encouraging Terence to stand together with Carmen, saying it’s difficult to make peace, though what has happened cannot be undone.
Oom Dawie turned to the gathered crowd, saying: “The time has come now when we cannot let our children walk alone. We must all be vigilant and if there is a child alone, we must attend to them. We have to protect our children.”
TRIBUTE: Tazne van Wyk. Picture: Supplied.
Echoing the rising call for the death penalty to be reinstated, he added: “We as taxpayers do not want to pay for murderers to live comfortably in our prisons. As a community leader, I am afraid people will take the law into their own hands.”
Eddie says: “I’ve been living and spinning in this ghetto area for decades, and as Spinners we have hearts, families and children. So we are coming to share our condolences with Tazne’s parents.
“Whenever we come out, the kids of the area come running to see our cars and antics, we feel for them and get to know them. Tazne would come to watch too.
Eddie spoke of the feeling in Ravensmead, saying mense are in a state of shock and disbelief that this kind of horrid violence would come to their area. He says: “We are used to people being killed by guns, but this, this is too hard to understand.”
STAND IN SOLITUDE: Charlie from Ford Addicts comforting Tazne's grieving dad Terence Manuel at their Clare Street home. Picture: Shahiem Bell.
Eddie brought out his new build, a Cortina with a Nissan 350z powerplant in it, “to keep up with the added power that’s coming to the sport,” he adds.
Charlie, a mom and representative of Ford Addicts, spoke on their behalf and handed over a bouquet to the family.
Bobby Nitro spoke to others who were in attendance.
Allie Brown, owner of Allies Place in Phillipi, says: “The Tazne story affected me and my family very much.”
ENCOURAGE: Oom Dawie praying for positivity to prevail. Picture: Shahiem Bell.
He had his young son with him so that he could experience and listen to what was being said by those coming out to help.
Sean February was there with his son, Connor. Sean says: “Hearing these stories always shook me when I was a bit younger, but now as a parent myself, it’s damn well terrifying to think that it’s almost always someone that is familiar to the victim, that is usually the culprit.”
FLYING COLOURS: Justin aka Bemors came out with his spin machine. Picture: Shahiem Bell.
Ex-convict Moeyhdien Pangarker will stand trial for the alleged murder of Tazne. Just why he was out on parole adds flame to the fire already burning in the hearts of residents.