THE family of Thembekile Mpande, 19, a Grade 10 pupil at Zamukulungisa Senior Sec ondary School in Mthatha, are struggling to come to terms with his death.
Thembekile died as a result of septicaemia which set in after being circumcised at an illegal circumcision school which he attended without his parents’ consent.
His father, Thembisizwe Mpande, described Thembekile as “full of life”.
“My boy was a sweet soul. There was laughter wherever he went. He was a character, an entertainer, a person who would joke around. We will miss his jokes, he always had us in stitch es when he was around,” he said.
The grieving father said his son was protective of his family and siblings.
“He loved us dearly.”
According to his father, The mbekile wanted to become a policeman and crack down on crime.
His father was with him at Mthatha General Hospital early last month when he died after being admitted with septicaemia and a gangrenous penis.
Doctors told his father he died of renal failure.
“Police must arrest all those circumcising boys illegally and the court must sentence them heavily. They must be made to pay dearly for their deeds,” Mpande said.
“His dream and those of the other initiates who died in these schools are gone.
“These initiation killings must be stopped,” he said, fight ing back tears. — lu lamilef@dispatch.co.za
Introducing Thembekile Mpande
Thembekile died as a result of septicaemia which set in after being circumcised at an illegal circumcision school which he attended without his parents’ consent.
His father, Thembisizwe Mpande, described Thembekile as “full of life”.
“My boy was a sweet soul. There was laughter wherever he went. He was a character, an entertainer, a person who would joke around. We will miss his jokes, he always had us in stitch es when he was around,” he said.
The grieving father said his son was protective of his family and siblings.
“He loved us dearly.”
According to his father, The mbekile wanted to become a policeman and crack down on crime.
His father was with him at Mthatha General Hospital early last month when he died after being admitted with septicaemia and a gangrenous penis.
Doctors told his father he died of renal failure.
“Police must arrest all those circumcising boys illegally and the court must sentence them heavily. They must be made to pay dearly for their deeds,” Mpande said.
“His dream and those of the other initiates who died in these schools are gone.
“These initiation killings must be stopped,” he said, fight ing back tears. — lu lamilef@dispatch.co.za
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