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Cape Town - Springbok wing Bryan Habana on Tuesday paid tribute to Zukisa Kela, a teacher from Johannesburg who died in tragic circumstances over the weekend following a gang attack.
The 25-year-old Kela was a teacher at Westbury Secondary School. According to media reports, his last words to his principal before he left school at the weekend were "viva 'maBokoBoko viva". He had also revived rugby at his school as the sport’s coordinator.
Kela and a friend were tied up and thrown into the Rhodes Park Lake in Johannesburg on Saturday evening by a gang of 12 men. Both of them drowned, one of their partners was raped while the other one managed to escape and call for help.
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"We are playing for each other as a team and for all South Africans from all walks of life who experience the highs and lows of life on a daily basis, but this week there is one fan who is particularly in our thoughts," said Habana via a SARU release.
"On behalf of the Springboks, to Zukisa Kela’s family, friends and school community as well as to the families of the other victims of the attack, you are in our thoughts and prayers after Saturday’s tragic incident.
"For us, to see the passion he had for the Springboks makes playing for the Boks and representing South Africa so much more special.
"The same goes for other victims of crime, many of them never reported on in the press but it is just as tragic and hurts just as much.
"We live in a wonderful country but not without challenges where tragic events happen daily. We’ve always said that we want to unite and bring together South Africans from all walks of life, give some form of hope and instill pride."
