One year ago today, police found the body of eight-year-old Tazne Van Wyk in a stormwater drain near Worcester.
Her murder sent shockwaves throughout South Africa as people mourned the tragic loss of another child.
People have taken to social media to honour her memory. The ‘Our Voices’ Facebook group appeals to the public to wear pink in Tazne’s memory.
“Today we pray for Carmen and Terrence. On this day one year ago the police found little Tazne van Wyk’s body. Tomorrow we celebrate her life and the life of all the other children who died by the hands of evil. We will wear a pink shirt and it will symbolise hope,” wrote one Facebook user in the Group.
The post received 123 comments from people sending love to Tazne’s family, and wishing she is resting in peace.
“Tragic. Rest in peace little Angel,” commented one.
“We will never forget the movement your death started Tazne. R. I. P. little angel our thoughts and prayers are with Carmen, Terrence and family today,” added another.
Tazne went missing on February 7, 2020 from Ravensmead. It is alleged that accused murderer Moyhdian Pangkaeker saw the little girl in Clare Street, lured her away and took her to Worcester before raping and killing her.
A widespread search for the little girl yielded no results, until the accused was taken into custody in Cradock, 800km from Cape Town. He later pointed out where he had dumped her body nearly two weeks after she went missing.
According to the indictment: “He cut off her right hand and hid her body in a stormwater pipe next to the N1 highway. A post-mortem examination done on the body of the deceased concluded that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest (unnatural).”
The accused’s pre-trial conference has been postponed to March 19, 2021 due to the unavailability of the accused’s legal representative, confirmed NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila.
Pangkaeker, who was being held at Goodwood Prison, will now be transferred to Pollsmoor Prison.
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Picture: Twitter
