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Friends and family attend Nathaniel Julies funeral in Eldorado Park.
- Nathaniel Julies’ funeral was held on Saturday.
- Julies, who had Down syndrome, was shot and killed near his home in Eldorado Park on August 26.
- Charges have been brought against three officers in connection with his murder.
Nathaniel Julies’ grieving mother, Bridget Harris, has described her son as a “wonderful boy” who loved to dance and laugh.
“I have no words to explain how I feel right now. I want to thank God for everything. He was a wonderful child that I have known for 16 years,” she said at his funeral at Mount Carmel Ministries in Eldorado Park on Saturday. .
“Scorpion [murder-accused Sergeant Simon Ndyalvane] took it from us, [but] we will always have his memory. “
Julies, who had Down syndrome, was shot and killed near his home in Eldorado Park on August 26.
READ | Residents at their number for the final salute to the murdered Nathaniel Julies
Three officers have been charged in connection with the boy’s untimely death.
Ndyalvane, 46, and Caylene Whiteboy, 26, face charges of murder, annulment of the purposes of justice, discharging a firearm in a public space and possession of prohibited ammunition.
Detective Sergeant Foster Netshiongolo, 37, faces charges of murder as an accessory after the fact, illegal possession of ammunition and nullification of the purposes of justice.
Julies’ final farewell drew dozens of people, with some banners waving depicting the teenager’s face; others wore T-shirts that featured a photo of Julies.
Meanwhile, businessman Gayton McKenzie lashed out at Gauteng Prime Minister David Makhura, who earlier this week said Julies had died after being caught in a crossfire.
Makhura had said Julies was killed during a shootout with members of the police, following a tip about stolen car parts.
“The gangster label that is in Eldorado Park would have been attached to any child who was murdered instead of Julies. The term gangsterism could not be applied to Julies,” he said.
Makhura’s spokesman, Vuyo Mhaga, has denied that the prime minister said Julies was involved in gangsterism.
“The prime minister never said that. He has called for those who killed the boy to be held accountable,” Mhaga said.
Zwelinzima Vavi of the South African Federation of Trade Unions, who was denied access to the funeral site, said it was “silly to say that Julies was involved in gang fights.”
“How can a 16-year-old boy with serious health problems, playing with a cookie, become a threat to the police?”
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