The residents of Hanover Park are in mourning, following two innocent lives lost in a shooting in the evening hours of Saturday 16 September.
On Wednesday 20 September, over 300 residents gathered to pay their respects following the shooting of Rachmat Jacobs and Siyabonga Garane, who were sitting on Surdown Walk.
The incident happened around 20:30.
Jacobs was a member of Vannie Hanover Park and Glenn Hans, founder of the organisation was asked to participate in the memorial, arranged by the community.
“She was a beautiful, vibrant person. She joined the club in the first year it started and we’ve been together for three years now. She was very active and always went along on club outings. We called her the ‘whistle blower’ because she always blew her whistle, then you know that’s Rachmat.”
Meagan Fisher, a long-time friend of Siyabonga says she met him through her parents and saw him every day.
“He was a quiet guy. Not a man of many words, but loved his family, his friends, his daughter and all kids that grew up around him,” says Fisher.
“The community has really been very supportive through this ordeal for both families.
“They have also welcomed his family from the Eastern Cape and held two memorial services for the victims as they were good people and not gangsters or affiliated with any gang. Their deaths have really shaken the community as we don’t know why anyone would do something like this,” she says.
Hans says club members came out in large numbers to support the families.
“We are all still very heartbroken in losing such a loving club member. Every one of them broke down in tears when the crowd walked to where the bodies were lying that Saturday night.
A lot of people came out to support the vigil and it was very heartsore.
“Both families were there and there’s great support from community members.”
Philippi Police spokesperson, Capt Lance Goliath confirmed a case of double murder is under investigation.
