Cape Town - Heartbroken Bishop Lavis residents gathered at the weekend to say their final goodbyes to slain delivery man Misheck Sambani, 34, before his body was flown to his home country of Malawi, today.
In an emotional memorial service held at the Azhaar Fisheries and Takeaways, his colleagues and customers gathered to share their memories of the friendly delivery man as they released doves and balloons into the air.
It comes a week after the father of the one was viciously stabbed to death during a robbery while making a delivery in Valhalla Park.
At the time, his employers and owners of Azhaar Fisheries and Takeaways, Kulsum Salie and Mudassir Chikate, said that he was knifed to death by thieves who wanted his cellphone.
The incident happened at about10 am as Sambani was delivering a gatsby to a customer. The customer called Salie and her husband who rushed to the scene to find Sambani lying in a pool of his own blood.
Speaking to the Cape Argus, Salie said the community was emotional while there was no word of an arrest.
“On Saturday the staff along with the community hosted the memorial because we had to make arrangements for his body to be flown to Malawi so his parents can lay him to rest.
“We released doves and each staff member got a chance to speak what is on their heart. The body was brought to us and his son and girlfriend also got a chance to say goodbye because none of us can be in Malawi.
“Misheck was more than an employee, he was like family.
“I had to walk my husband to the coffin and tell him to put the flowers down and say goodbye. It was very hard for my husband.”
Salie said while they were at peace, they hoped the perpetrator would come clean.
“We have some sort of closure because we got a chance to say goodbye. His body will only arrive in Malawi on Monday (today) and we will have a live stream for our staff.
“The police have not yet made an arrest and we hope the perpetrator will do the right thing and admit to his crime. It can’t just be another murder in Bishop Lavis.”
mahira.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus