As he lay bleeding from a stab wound to the chest, a promising rugby player's mom tried desperately to save him.
|||Cape Town - As he lay bleeding from a stab wound to the chest, a promising young rugby player’s mother tried desperately to save him.
But her efforts were in vain and on Saturday 18-year-old Abdul-Hadi Manuel’s family laid him to rest.
The Grade 11 pupil at Alexander Sinton High School was stabbed outside a corner shop near his home in Belgravia in Athlone on Wednesday.
He spent three days in hospital and was declared brain dead. He died on Friday.
It was not clear what happened or what the motive was and his parents are waiting for a police report to provide some clarity.
What is known is that he was stabbed near his heart.
Both his parents rushed to the scene when they were alerted to the stabbing.
Ismail Manuel recalled watching his wife trying to resuscitate their son. “That was the most hurtful part for me,” he said.
On Sunday, friends and relatives continued to stream into the Manuel family home to pay their respects.
Manuel spoke fondly of his son - a star rugby player and an athlete who he said came from a “strict” home and found comfort in reading the Qur’an.
He became emotional, choking back tears as he talked about Abdul-Hadi’s achievements, his discipline and respectful manner.
Abdul-Hadi played rugby at school and was a top performer at Primrose Rugby Football Club.
His father showed off certificates and trophies and told of Abdul-Hadi’s trip to France to watch rugby and of the respect he had earned among younger boys in the neighbourhood. He was also a good sprinter.
He enjoyed leading Muslim religious gatherings with his father, who said he had “such a melodic voice”.
“Everybody loved him… he was so down to earth and humble,” he said.
“The reasons why he had to die such a cruel death will only be known by the man above, but the law has got to take its course now.”
Abdul-Hadi was one of two pupils stabbed dead last week.
Seventeen-year-old Uviwe Mzingelwa from New Crossroads was also stabbed, allegedly by a fellow pupil on a Golden Arrow bus last Tuesday.
Uviwe was in Grade 11 at Ned Doman High School in Athlone. It was alleged that he and another schoolboy had been in a fight.
According to reports, Uviwe and another pupil were involved in a fight on the bus on Monday when he had allegedly stabbed the pupil with a pen. An 18-year-old was arrested.
At the time of publication, police had not responded to requests for comment about the incident involving Abdul-Hadi.
natasha.prince@inl.co.za
Cape Argus