Cape Town – A Delft family is in mourning after a gunman opened fire on a group of friends, killing a teenage girl.
The 17-year-old schoolgirl who was described as the light and joy of her high school was shot and killed, allegedly by a criminal.
Whaseema Matthews, 17, who was in Grade 10 at Rosendaal High School in Delft, had been visiting her friend at Vuurlelie Street when the shooter stormed into the house just before 1pm on Wednesday.
As the youngsters fled, a bullet hit Whaseema in the back.
The injured girl was rushed to Delft Day Hospital where she later passed away.
It is not clear who the gunman’s target was. No one else was injured in the attack.
On Thursday, hundreds of people attended Whaseema’s janaazah (funeral) in Delft, including pupils and staff of her school, and City officials.
Her grieving father, Riyaad Matthews, says he would leave the perpetrator's fate to God.
Riyaad Mathews is grieving the loss of his daughter, Whaseema Mathews who was shot dead in Delft. Picture: Jack Lestrade.
Whaseema was the youngest of five children.
“She was a very happy child and very handy in the house and would always help her mother."
“She will be missed, she had a lot of friends,” said the dad.
“I was a criminal in the past, I can go and get them but I will end up in jail, so I will leave (the killer) in God’s hands.”
School principal Chrizelda Layman says the teen’s presence is already missed at school.
“Whaseema was a bright pupil and she had dreams of being a medical doctor,” she said.
“She was a bubbly child who had friends across the grades, she was the spark in the class and she would carry the name and flag of the school high.”
Proportional Councillor for the ANC, Nondumiso Sono, says it is concerning that Washeema and her friends were not in school on Wednesday.
“We need to speak with the school principal. One of the challenges we pick up is that these kids bunk school because the gates are locked by 8am,” she said.
“No matter how late they are, the principals must allow them onto the school grounds because when they leave the school gates, there is a lot they meet with.”
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, says a murder case was registered for investigation.
“Circumstances surrounding the incident is unknown at this stage. No arrests have been made,” he says.