- Emotions ran high at the funeral of the Free State boy who was mauled to death by a pit bull.
- A neighbor described the fear of living in a community that has pit bulls.
- His teacher described him as a caring and energetic student.
“Sleep tight, my lollipop. The hug I got from you is gone.”
Those were the words of the emotional assistant principal of Roseview Elementary School, Thandeka Masiza, at the funeral of one of her students, Olebogeng Mosime, who was mauled to death by a neighbor’s pit bull.
Masiza fought back tears during the third-grader’s funeral in Mangaung on Friday.
Addressing the packed Apostolic Faith Mission Church, Masiza described Olebogeng as a bubbly kid who loved to hug his teachers and peers.
“He was a special kid. He and his classmates loved each other. They loved their teachers. I’m going to miss his daily morning hug.”
“His death came as a shock. The day before his untimely death, we had an award ceremony at the school honoring our children. He was there as emotional as ever.”
“The next day, we were crying. This is a huge wound. It would take time to heal. We have to learn to live with the wounds and this immense pain. It is a cut to the heart.”
“Olebogeng walked away with one of our heart parts. My heart is heavy. Sleep well, my lollipop,” said Masiza.
The family’s neighbor, Nozi Manyana, added that the boy’s death hurt the neighborhood.
“We’re hurt. I can’t believe I’m the one comforting my neighbors. I was there when it happened. It’s not easy. God knows why this happened.”
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“God chose his day to leave this world. As neighbors, we must respect and advise each other. But it is wrong when other neighbors are pompous and refuse to help when called.
“They did it when Olebogeng’s family needed them.”
Manyana said the boy’s death should change the behavior of some in his neighborhood.
“He was a loving kid. He loved soccer. He played with my grandson. He didn’t want to play anything except soccer. He loved soccer balls.”
He added that his death had left the neighborhood concerned for his safety, saying they feared the ferocious dogs some owners kept in their yards.
“Today, we cannot allow our children to play outside because of what happened. We fear for our safety and theirs,” Manyana said.
Olebogeng’s funeral was attended by young and old.
Some of his classmates and teachers wept as the speakers described him.
Olebogeng died on November 12 when a neighbor’s pit bull mauled him at his parents’ home in Bloemfontein. The dog broke through a fence and hid in the family garage.
It dragged him by the throat and finally killed him.
