Rhodes Park attack shatters dream

Johannesburg - Zukisa Kela constantly declared his unwavering love for his fiance, and the youngcouple had just finalised lobolo negotiations last month.

Their dream of a happy life was shattered on Saturday night, when Kela met his untimely death atRhodes Park in Kensington, Joburg.

The couple, along with friends who were visiting them from the Eastern Cape, were attacked by agang of 12 men.

One of the women was raped, while the other managed to escape. The men had their hands and feettied up and were thrown into the lake, where they drowned.

On Monday evening, a woman knelt down before a bundle of flowers at the park and criedhysterically.

Passers-by tried to console her, but she continued wailing.

They killed my family like animals. I dont understand what type of people would kill somebody likethis, she said as she put her own flowers down

The woman didnt reveal her identity, saying only that she was a neighbour of one of the slain men.

Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said no arrests had been made. Hesaid police were looking into the motive for the murders because nothing had been stolen from thecouples.

Kela, 25, was a well-loved teacher at Westbury Secondary School who taught social sciences andcoached rugby.

Principal Dr Been Robinson said Kelas colleagues and Grade 8 pupils had taken the news of hisdeath badly.

Robinson said church members and officials from the Department of Education visited the school onMonday to offer counselling.

The nature of his death is beyond comprehension. How can one human being do this to another?Robinson asked.

He described Kela as a joyful and humorous man.

Robinson said Kela was an ardent rugby supporter who loved the Stormers. He said the last wordsKela spoke to him before the weekend were: Viva maBokoboko viva.

The Westbury Secondary School Facebook page said they would miss the caring and humbleteacher.

Will forever miss you in this sad moment, the rugby team will never be the same without you, one

pupil wrote.

Kensington residents, meanwhile, voiced their dissatisfaction with crime in Rhodes Park.

There have been numerous muggings, and a woman was raped in the park last year.

Bonga Khumalo said on Facebook there was no need for a traumatic incident like this to know therewas something wrong with the park.

Gates and fencing were stolen and the vacant building that used to be a restaurant attracts thugs.

Tracy Oosthuizen said she wont walk in the park anymore.

A few months ago, my domestic worker walked through there at about 3pm and three men tried torape her.

Councillor Carlos da Rocha said there would be only three gates open to the park and they would beclosed at night. Palisade fencing which had been stolen would also be replaced.

There was no security at the park when a team from The Star arrived around 6pm on Monday.

Its a travesty that something like this had to happen. However, Im fully confident the Rhodes Parksecurity will be immensely improved from now on and criminals will know Rhodes Park from now onis a no-go area, said Da Rocha.

Members of the I Love Kensington Association asked people to come to the park at 4.30pm onWednesday.

Bring your dogs for a walk, bring your kids to play or just come for a walk the more of us who usethis public space regularly, the safer it will be. Lets take back our park.

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The Star

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