FRIENDS and family came together on Sunday, 5 November to bid Lesedi Mbanguzi farewell.
The 18-year-old from Etwatwa, Ekurhuleni died on Thursday, 26 October after what was believed to be a ritual killing.
Before Lesedi was taken to his final resting place at Phumulani Cemetery in Etwatwa, his schoolmates wrote messages on his coffin.
Some messages were short while others were longer, and his friends believe Lesedi will read them.
"We cannot send him postcards, but we hope wherever he is, he's able to see and read what he meant to us," said his friend Tshepiso Kekana (19).
Lesedi's friends, community and family also held a candlelight ceremony in his honour on Saturday night, 4 November.
Lesedi and his friend were abducted by ritual killers, who took them to a house where they intended to remove some body parts.
The ritual killers wanted his eye and a finger.
According to his friend who survived, a sangoma who was part of the ritual killers pointed out Lesedi as the one to be sacrificed for his body parts.
His friends lamented how the wheels of justice were grinding slowly.
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"People who did this are known and the community has also been to the house where they were assaulted, but we are surprised that the police are not doing anything," said a resident.
Lesedi's father, Themba Nkosi, believed Lesedi and his friend were "sold" by a tavern owner.
"I believe he wanted to thwala with my son to boost his struggling tavern because his car was seen at the very same house on the night they were kidnapped. But I believe my son will fight for himself," he said.
South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) regional deputy chairwoman, Tshepiso Molaudi said the person who did this was not a sangoma, but a witch.
"A true sangoma won't use body parts and kill for that matter. We are working with the Traditional Healers Organisation to get to the bottom of this," said Molaudi.
Police spokeswoman Captain Nelda Sekgobela said the police were investigating cases of murder, kidnapping and assault.
