SHARPEVILLE – The quiet township of Sharpeville was filled with grief and heartbreak on Thursday morning as family, friends, and community members gathered to lay six-year-old Keamogetswe “Kea” Mokemane to rest. The young girl’s funeral, held on October 16, 2025, began at 7:00 a.m., marking a somber farewell to a life tragically cut short.
The service, attended by scores of mourners, was a deeply emotional event as those who knew Kea struggled to come to terms with her untimely death. After the ceremony, her small white coffin was taken to Vanderbijlpark Cemetery, where she was laid to rest amid tears, prayers, and heartfelt tributes.
Kea’s death has shaken the Sharpeville community to its core. The innocent girl was allegedly stabbed multiple times by her own father, 33-year-old Lopang Donald Phele, at their family home in Phelandaba, Sharpeville, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. According to police reports, after the horrifying incident, Phele handed himself over to authorities the following day, on October 9.
Neighbours and relatives described Kea as a bright and joyful child whose smile could light up any room. “She was always laughing and playing with her friends,” said a family friend. “It’s hard to believe she’s gone, especially in such a cruel way.”
During the funeral, speakers condemned the act of violence and called for stronger action to protect children from abuse and domestic violence. “No child should ever die at the hands of those meant to love and protect them,” said one community leader. “We need to unite to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again.”
Community members have since rallied around Kea’s grieving mother and relatives, offering emotional and spiritual support as they try to navigate the devastating loss. Social workers and local churches have also stepped in to provide counseling services for the family and neighbors who are struggling to process the trauma.
Police spokesperson Captain Thembeka Dlamini confirmed that the accused remains in custody and is expected to appear before the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court soon to face charges of murder. The case has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many South Africans calling for justice and harsher penalties for perpetrators of child abuse.
As the sun set over Sharpeville on Thursday evening, candles and flowers were placed outside the Mokemane family home in Kea’s memory. Her classmates and teachers from her local school also paid tribute, describing her as a “sweet and curious little girl who loved learning and making new friends.”
For the Sharpeville community, the pain of losing Kea will linger for a long time. Yet amid the sorrow, her death has become a rallying cry against gender-based and domestic violence, reminding everyone that protecting children must remain a shared responsibility.
May little Kea’s soul rest in peace.
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