An emotional farewell unfolded on Sunday when eight-year-old Khumo paid tribute to her late mother, murdered runner Elizabeth Moselakgomo, during her funeral in Pankop township, Mpumalanga. Khumo's words captured the pain of losing a mother at such a young age. Elizabeth Moselakgomo, 38, was one of nine women whose deaths are being investigated in Ekurhuleni. Her body was identified by her family at the Germiston mortuary after she disappeared following an afternoon run on Wednesday, September 10.
Standing before mourners on Sunday, Khumo spoke directly to her mother, describing the emptiness left behind by her death while holding on to the love and memories they shared. "Dearest mother, how heartbreaking that you left me," she said. "The day feels quiet without your voice, but your love is still here, surrounding me with love." Khumo's tribute was a poignant expression of a child's love and loss.
Khumo said that although she could no longer hold her mother's hand or see her smile, the memories they created together would remain with her forever. "I may not hold your hand or see your beautiful smile, but all the memories we have made will stay with me forever," she said. In one of the most poignant moments of her tribute, Khumo said she would look to the sky whenever she felt lonely and imagine her mother watching over her.
The eight-year-old also expressed the longing that comes with losing someone she loved deeply, saying she wished her mother could still be there to embrace her. "I wish I could hug you. I wish you can be here. But I carry you inside my heart, so you can always be nearby," Khumo said. She promised to remember her mother as she grew older, holding on to the things her mother had done for her and believing that her mother would continue to watch over her from above.
Khumo ended her tribute with a tender declaration of love, calling herself her mother's "beautiful daughter" and "princess". "Your beautiful daughter loves you so much. She misses you every day, but I know that I have gained a beautiful angel in you," she said. "Love, your beautiful princess Khumo. Thank you." The funeral was attended by mourners who came to pay their respects to Elizabeth Moselakgomo.
Following her mother's death, a fundraising campaign supporting the education of Khumo raised more than R100,000, surpassing its original target of R50,000. The authorised BackaBuddy campaign, launched on Monday, September 14, had raised R108,541 by Wednesday. The campaign aimed to establish an education fund to support Khumo's educational journey in the years ahead.
The education fund was set up to provide stability, opportunity, and hope for Khumo's future. Every contribution will help towards school/university fees, educational needs, and other costs associated with her education. The campaign encouraged donations, no matter how small, to help ensure that Khumo can continue her education and pursue her dreams.
Key points
- A fundraising campaign for Khumo's education raised R108,541.
- Elizabeth Moselakgomo was one of nine women whose deaths are being investigated in Ekurhuleni.
- Khumo's emotional tribute to her mother captured the pain of losing a loved one at a young age.
