Mandela visits gas victims' families

By Sibonelo Msomi

It is the Lord that gives, and the Lord that takes, said former president Nelson Mandela on Saturday afternoon when visiting Chatsworth to pay tribute to the families of 13 children who died at the Throb night club last month.

The grieving families still could not come to terms with the tragic death of the children in a panic stampede after a teargas canister was set off in the Throb night-club a month ago.

Mandela could not attend the funeral due to other commitments. On Saturday he laid flowers at the makeshift shrine at the Throb.

Sorrow and pain were etched on the faces of grief-stricken families and friends and tears were still flowing freely over their cheeks.

Mandela said he had asked the Mandela Children's Fund to make a substantial contribution to the families of the victims.

He told the bereaved families that they could turn the tragedy into a stepping stone to triumph.

He encouraged the people of Chatsworth to work together for the their betterment and prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

"Young people, I want you to take the future into your own hands. I want young people who will show determination and a high level of performance. Those are the people I will always support," he said.

The children who died at the Throb night club were: Nolan Pillay, Junaid Gafoor, Sumeshan Govender, Prean Govindsamy, Sumaya Kudoos, Shantal Mudaray, Jaydene Mohanlall, Garasha Naidoo, Kerusha Naidoo, Vaneshree Pillay, Sunesha Sowrimuthoo, Preston Premsing and Rory Subramoney.

Community leader Orlene Naidoo told Mandela that, as much she appreciated his visit, it was unfortunate that they met him while grieving the death of young children.

Naidoo said: "We do not want to mobilise around the tragedy of the grief-stricken people, but around the poor people. We want to lend support to each other and join as the poor."

Local youth leader Brandon Pillay put the blame on insufficient recreational facilities which caused youngsters to go to the Throb night club for entertainment.

"We are looking for a place to hang out and socialise, but there are no entertainment centres here for us," he said.