Johannesburg - Taegrin Morris wanted to become an engineer.
Just a week before the 4-year-old was dragged to death in a hijacking, he told his parents about his love for fancy cars.
“He told his mom he liked Ferraris and Bugattis and that he wanted to design them,” said Elwin Morris.
When his parents asked him how he would achieve this dream, he said he would work hard and travel to Germany so he could one day own his own workshop.
“He was a brilliant child. I’m going to remember him as a star,” said Morris.
Members of the South African Council of Churches visited the family ahead of the memorial service to mourn with them.
“Leave them to God,” said Bishop Zipho Siwa.
He said the community had been filled with fear and pain, and asked that they pray for healing and transformation.
“May his death be a reason for us to live better… May we all be human again,” he said.
Dr Imogen Mashazi, chief executive of Ekurhuleni metro, said they had started a campaign “Genoeg is genoeg (enough is enough)” against drug abuse, child abuse, gangsterism and hijacking in the Reiger Park and Delmore Park areas.
After the service, Morris spoke about how his son had somehow known he would die soon.
“The other Saturday he went to the neighbours across the road. They took a cupcake with five candles and he insisted they sing (happy birthday) for him,” he said.
His birthday was only in September, but he had wanted them to wish him a happy birthday right then. “When I look back at it, it was his way of saying goodbye,” Morris said.
He still had a lot of anger and would never be able to forgive the people who had hurt his son, he said.
“That wasn’t human, not even an animal does that.”
The family has been trying to deal with the death through the support of friends and relatives.
“It has helped a lot. The police are doing their work. We don’t want people blaming people for the wrong things and then the people who did this get off scot-free,” he said.
The memorial service will take place on Thursday evening at the Reiger Park community hall.
The funeral will be on Saturday at 8am at the community hall.
The Star