Cape Town - One day after his 9-year-old grandson died from injuries after an incident at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) festival, Hamilton Pharaoh says their family feels as if their world has ended.
Joshua Pharaoh died at Life Bayview Private Hospital in Mossel Bay on Sunday, following an incident at a military vehicle exhibition at the festival in Oudtshoorn on Friday.
Pharaoh said the family was not ready to discuss what happened, but he confirmed his grandson’s death was a result of head injuries.
“My wife Heidi, me, our grandson (Joshua) and his parents were on a holiday in Oudtshoorn. It has been traumatic and his parents, Nicole and Rayno Cedras, are not ready to talk as their whole world ended when Josh James Pharaoh died,” said Pharaoh.
He said the family have requested that the media respect their privacy.
The matter was still under investigation and Joshua’s body remained with police. There had been no communication with the SANDF.
The KKNK organisers posted condolences to the Pharoah and Cedras families on their social media pages, saying they would await the outcome of the investigation.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie confirmed an inquest docket had been opened.
SANDF spokesperson Mafi Mgobozi said a formal SANDF board of investigation had been convened and would run concurrently with the investigation by the Oudtshoorn police.
He said the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and the senior officers of the SANDF, expressed shock and sent heartfelt condolences to Joshua’s family, loved ones and friends.