Amelia Hope and Elena Faith.
Image: SUPPLIED
TONIGHT, the Tongaat community will gather for a heartfelt vigil to honour the lives of Amelia Hope and Elena Faith, two young girls whose tragic deaths have left a profound impact on their families and neighbours.
Residents will gather at the Belvedere Unity Park from 6pm to 9pm this evening to honour the two sisters who tragically died on Tuesday.
The vigil, organised by the Tongaat People’s Movement in partnership with the Tongaat Civic Association and the Belvedere Volunteers group, will take place ahead of the children’s funeral at True North Church, in Tongaat, tomorrow.
Organisers said the vigil was intended to provide a space for collective mourning and support for the grieving family as the community continued to grapple with the shock of the tragedy.
Ranjith Ramphal, 72, chairman of the Tongaat People’s Movement, said the heart-breaking incident had deeply affected him personally.
“I lost my wife two weeks ago and this was a sad loss for me. That is when I started thinking about the mother who lost her two beautiful daughters. This is a major tragedy to hit Tongaat.
“Our hearts go out to the family and we wanted to help honour those two girls. Once I put the idea out there, everyone started coming forward wanting to be a part of it. We got permission from the family and we thought it would be a good way for Tongaat to grieve together,” he said.
“These senseless deaths tapped a raw nerve. You can feel the sadness in the air in Tongaat. These children were completely innocent. There is always support out there if you need it; people just need to ask for it.”
He added that the vigil would include prayers led by a pastor and a candle-lighting ceremony to honour the souls which had had departed.
Rachael Naidoo, secretary for the Tongaat Civic Association and the Belvedere Civic Association, said the community’s thoughts remain with the family.
“Our hearts go out to the families of Amelia Hope and Elena Faith. May their memories be a blessing and comfort to all who loved them. Thank you to the organisers for bringing our community together in this difficult time. May we find strength in our shared love and support for one another,” she said.
Community members are encouraged to attend the vigil to pay their respects and show support to the bereaved family during this time of immense loss.