Watch: Tazne van Wyk funeral underway in Elsies River

Eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk will be laid to rest on Saturday 29 February at the Modderdam Cemetary. The funeral service started at 10:00 at the Uniting Reformed Church in Elsies River. 

Van Wyk disappeared in Elsies River on her way to a nearby tuckshop on Friday 7 February. The main suspect by the name of Moehydien Pangaker was later arrested in the Eastern Cape. On his return to the Western Cape, he led police to Van Wyk’s body that was found in a stormwater pipe near Worcester. 

Pangaker was out on parole with 11 convictions to his name at the time of Van Wyk’s death. 

Watch: Tazne van Wyk funeral

Vol gepakte VGK Goodwood groet #TazneVanWyk deur te sing: "Wat het sy gemaak… Wat het sy gemaak…" pic.twitter.com/XwEhX8BPbt

— Son Koerant (@Sonkoerant) February 29, 2020

#TazneVanWyk The funeral service is about to start. The church is packed on the inside. SF pic.twitter.com/91XfjXum2S

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 29, 2020

The body of eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk arrives at the VGK Church in Elsies River for the funeral service. @WeekendArgus @IOL #TazneFuneral pic.twitter.com/qGPZrWQRs7

— Tshego Lepule (@tshegofatsang) February 29, 2020

Community gathers for Van Wyk’s funeral 

Footage of Van Wyk’s funeral has been making its rounds on social media and understandably so. According to reports, Halt Road in Elsies River is packed to capacity with community members that would like to pay their last respects to the innocent girl and to support the bereaved family. 

According to EWN, funeral organiser Joe Hendricks said outside seating with screens, sound equipment and additional ablution facilities have been arranged since the church can only accommodate 600 people.

“We have seating for 3 000 but we expect 5 000 plus,” he said. 

Minister of Police Bheki Cele has also arrived at the funeral to pay his respects, along with the provincial police management. 

While singing Senzenina in the church, which translates to what have we done, mourners were heartbroken. 

Van Wyk’s principal said that for the past three weeks, she had left her footprint. 

“She was friendly; she was a bright student and always eager to learn,” said the principal.

Unrest after another case of gender-based violence 

After countless acts of gender-based violence that has swept the nation — at an alarming rate in the last year — furious community members have had enough. To make matters worse, it points to a failed correctional system where many prisoners are being released on parole just to commit another crime — Pangaker an example of this.

Pangaker appeared at the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Friday 21 February. His case was later postponed to 17 April for further investigation. 

The untimely death of innocent Van Wyk seems to be the last straw — as members of the community — are alleged to have forced their way into the court. 

According to Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa and provincial traffic spokesperson Gaytham Cornelius, Voortrekker Road also had to be cordoned off due to angry crowds.