Speakers call for war on drugs at Zinde’s funeral

21 June 2016 - 12:45 By Bongani Nkosi

Former South African Broadcasting Corporation board member Hope Zinde's funeral service was held in Pretoria on Tuesday.Mourners‚ who include close family members‚ relatives and friends – among them high-profile politicians and celebrities –gathered at the Hellenic Community Hall in Hatfield for a final send-off to Zinde.A number of media outlets were covering the funeral.Hope Zinde’s son to undergo psychiatric evaluationWarona Mark Zinde “was not aware of what he was doing at the time” his mother was killed.Her coffin left her family home in Mamelodi‚ east of the capital city‚ on Tuesday morning for the Hellenic Community Hall‚ where the main service was to be held before she will be interred at the Pretoria East Cemetery in Garsfontein.The 50-year-old Zinde‚ a former TV and radio personality‚ was found dead in the boot of her car at Pecanwood‚ an upmarket housing estate in Hartbeespoort over the weekend. Media personality Zinde’s son back in court for her murderThe son of murdered broadcast media personality Hope Zinde is expected to make a brief appearance in the Brits Magistrate's Court on Friday.Her son‚ Mark Oarona Zinde‚ 23‚ has been arrested and charged for her killing. He is also facing a charge of possession of illegal drugs.African National Congress deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte‚ Minister for Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu and former Tshwane mayor Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa paid tribute to Zinde at the funeral. We will support, not condemn, him: Zinde familyThe family of broadcast media personality Hope Zinde cannot understand how the son she lived for ended up charged with her murder.Most speakers directed their messages of support to Zinde's mother‚ Audrey Zinde.“We need to celebrate this wonderful woman‚” Duarte said.“She never gave up on anything. Hope needed no validation to be Hope Zinde. She was Hope Zinde.” Zulu called for communities to wage a concerted fight against supply of illegal drugs. She said both “small fish” and “big fish” should be apprehended. But communities should also help uproot the demand for drugs.“If the demand side is reduced‚ the supply side will have its oxygen cut‚” said Zulu.Mkhatshwa also reiterated the need to eradicate supply of drugs in communities.Oarona has made two appearances at the Brits Magistrate's Court‚ in North West‚ where he is facing charges of murder and possession of illegal substances.Last Friday‚ the matter was postponed to July 18 to evaluate Oarona's mental status. He remains in custody and not attending the service.A TV and radio journalist at the SABC from 1991 to 2006‚ Hope Zinde was appointed to the public broadcaster's board in 2013.Communications Minister Faith Muthambi fired her along with colleagues Rachel Kalidass and Ronnie Lubisi for allegedly not supporting Hlaudi Motsoeneng's appointment as chief operations officer. - TMG Digital/Sowetan..

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