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A portrait of Natasha Bouwer is placed at the entrance of the church in Pretoria.Tears rolled down cheeks as friends and family of Natasha Bouwer (23) viewed a video of her singing and a slideshow of photos portraying her life at a memorial service at Die Ooskerk, Pretoria, on Thursday.
The packed church was adorned with photos of the murdered young woman.
Natasha was shot and killed on January 22, allegedly by her stepfather Anton, at their home in Fairleads, Benoni. The family’s domestic worker was also shot dead and Natasha’s mother, Adélle, was hospitalised with gunshot wounds and survived.
Anton (56) is also accused of killing his parents at their Bredell home earlier that day. He will make his next appearance on February 16 for his formal bail application, and was remanded in custody after his last court appearance on February 2.
Looking healthy and well-recovered from the shooting, an emotional Adélle, dressed in a white two-piece suit, sat in the front row next to Natasha’s boyfriend, Marno van Dyk, and her half-brother, Barry Bouwer.
Before the Church minister could take to the podium to share words of encouragement, a group of learners from Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool in Pretoria, where Natasha was schooled, rendered two moving hymns.
Mom’s eulogy
A eulogy written by Adélle was read by the minister and in it, Adélle expressed how she thought Natasha would be with her for 100 years, but unfortunately, that never happened.
“I asked God one day for a daughter with blue eyes who I will call Natasha. Since the day of your birth until now, you have been exactly what I needed. I remember a time when you participated in eisteddfod and would forget the words to the rhymes, your blue eyes were filled with tears and you had a shaky voice.
“Your face focussed on me for support. Today I have teary eyes and a shaky voice. I am very uncertain about what life will be like without you.
“Today I have to persuade myself that everything you ever wanted to achieve you did in 23 short years. What I am certain of, is that for every day of those 23 years, you knew that I loved you unconditionally and that I am your biggest fan.
“Tasha, your entire being will forever be fresh in my mind and will live in my heart until the day that I leave this world,” said Adélle.
Natasha’s mother Adélle and other family members burst into tears. ‘I’ll always love you’
Marno broke down as he recalled how Natasha would lie on his chest and stare lovingly at him.
“Thank you for your humility and for loving me so much. Thank you for caring for me and thank you for giving me the chance to love you. I had the privilege to have loved you and I will love you for the rest of my life,” he said.
Photos of the murdered young woman are displayed at the church. Natasha was a final year Bachelor of Laws student at the University of Pretoria.
She was cremated.
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