Mother seeks justice after son gunned down

The grief-stricken family of Jaden Van Der Byl, one of three young men tragically shot dead after an alleged social media dispute, is calling for justice to be served. Jaden (18) was gunned down on the night of Friday, June 7, 2024, in a shocking incident that has the residents of Bristow Crescent in Bonela paralysed with fear.

Jaden’s mother, Terese Van Der Byl, described her son as a ‘boisterous gentle giant’, who had a deep love for children. Fighting back tears, Terese spoke about the devastating loss and the difficulty the family faces in accepting the sudden and brutal death of their beloved son.

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“We heard these gunshots and my motherly instincts kicked in. I instantly felt that my son was involved. I immediately started running down the stairs (of the five-storey block of flats) to see what had happened. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, asking ‘Where is my child?’. By the time I got to the staircase, my sister, who was ahead of me, started yelling that they were all dead. When they checked on my son, they said he had a pulse and we rushed him to Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital. The doctors looked him over and a few minutes later, we were told that he had passed away. My heart is shattered. Jaden was full of life and had so much love to give. He adored kids and was always the one to make them smile. It’s unimaginable that his life was taken in such a senseless act of violence,” she said.

The incident, which occurred in the usually quiet neighbourhood, has sent shockwaves through the community. According to reports, the shooting stemmed from an escalating dispute on social media between two groups of boys.

The altercation, which began online, tragically culminated in gunfire, claiming the lives of Jaden and two other young men, aged 16 and 22.

“This was ruthless because all three boys were shot in the head. This was an execution. They hired someone to carry out this shooting- this was not the work of children. These people have taken everything from me. Five years ago, I lost my husband and now my only child has been snatched away from me as well. They have taken everything from me- they have robbed me of my child. They don’t understand what pain they have caused. I was 13-years-old when we first moved here and we have never had something like this happen here. The stillness that this incident has left here is unbearable. Children are wary of everything and they rush indoors after a certain time of day. This place is so quiet, you can hear a pin drop. Life is not the same,” said Van Der Byl.

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Community members and local officials have condemned the violence, calling for increased measures to address the root causes of such disputes and prevent future tragedies. Residents also emphasised the need for unity and dialogue.

“Our community is in mourning, but we must come together to support one another and find ways to resolve conflicts peacefully. We cannot allow social media disputes to escalate into deadly violence. It’s time for us to take a stand and protect our youth,” said a resident, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. As the investigation continues, the Van Der Byl family remains steadfast in their demand for justice. They hope that by sharing Jaden’s story, they can prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak and loss.