Daily Sun (February 26 2014) - MOURNERS at the graveside wept for their young relatives and friends.
But as the coffins of Thandeka and Cwayitha descended into their graves, people started fighting, processions were disrupted and the police had to intervene.
THE DEATH OF THE BEST FRIENDS HAS NOT BROUGHT PEACE TO AN ANGUISHED COMMUNITY.
Relatives, family members, pupils and others attended the emotional ceremony for Thandeka Moganetsi (15) and Cwayitha Rhathazwayo (16) at Dobsonville Stadium.
During the speeches, family members and friends talked about how Satanism had taken the lives of the girls. During the service, the police arrested people who were disruptive. Nurses and ambulances were on standby and many mourners were taken away as people fainted and cried uncontrollably during the service.
Pupils from George Khosa High School surrounded the coffins at the stadium, holding candles and paying their last respects.
More than twenty pastors from churches around Soweto joined hands to pray against Satanism. And even as people ran for shelter from the rain, they did not stop their worship.
Phumzile Booi, Cwayita's uncle, said the rain was a blessing as it symbolised her love of water and swimming.
The EFF and ANC also attended the service, using the platform for electioneering. When they were asked to show respect they left the stadium and went outside to sing struggle songs, later marching to the New Roodepoort Cemetery where the girls were buried side by side.
After the service at the stadium, pupils were told to go home. That is when they started disrupting the service, while the pastors were still praying.
In spite of the presence of the Joburg Metro Police Department, kids still marched to the graveyard 2km away, jumping the fence to get to the grave site.
The pupils sang struggle songs and disrupted the proceedings. Some of the pupils started falling and rolling on the ground before fainting.
Thandeka and Cwayita's school bags and Cwayita's swimming medals were lowered into their graves.
Thandeka's grandfather, Ruben Williams, said Satanism is growing in schools.
He said Thandeka had a tattoo of a dollar on her arm, but her arm was burnt to cover it.
"Thandeka stole our bank cards and withdrew our money even though she didn't have the PIN numbers," he said.
"For six months she didn't go to school, but she still managed to pass."
He even claimed Thandeka was able to fly over the high wall around their house without touching it.
Cwayita's mother, Pheliswa Rhathazwayo (39), said she blames herself for her daughter's death.
"Cwayita tried to show me the signs of her trouble, but I didn't see them," she said.
"I didn't know that my daughter was targeted by Satan but now I know that Satanism is real."
) The mutilated bodies of the two girls were found last Wednesday in an abandoned park in Dobsonville. Razor blades and black candles were found at the scene.
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