Pretoria - Former South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board member Hope Zinde was laid to rest in Garsfontein cemetery in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Amongst the mourners who attended the funeral at the Hellenic Community Hall in Hatfield were a number of high profile politicians and celebrities.
Read: Mourners urge backing for Zinde’s son
Zinde’s body was found in the boot of her car at Pecanwood Estate in Hartbeespoort dam over a week ago. Her son, Mark Warona Zinde, was subsequently arrested and has been charged with her murder, as well as drug possession.
The 23-year-old Mark Zinde did not attend the funeral.
Read: #HopeZinde: Son was facing rehab
He has reportedly been admitted to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital where he is undergoing observation.
The former TV and radio personality’s family was composed as they sat quietly under the marquee, bowing their heads while pastors proceeded with the funeral ceremony.
Minister of small business and development, Lindiwe Zulu, called on the community not to judge Zinde’s son. “The family is praying and giving the young man support, if the family says that who are we to judge?”
Zulu called for communities to stand up and take action against drugs. “We call upon communities not to act until it’s too late before they fight drug abuse. We must remove drugs from our communities, schools, streets and universities.”
She concluded that people who should be targeted were drug suppliers because that was where the root of the problem lay.
ANA