R230k raised for Elizabeth ‘Tsontso’ Moselakgomo’s daughter

· The South African

An education fund for Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo’s eight-year-old daughter, Khumo, has raised more than R230 000 as South Africans rally around the child following her mother’s murder.

The support comes after Khumo stood before mourners at her mother’s funeral in Mpumalanga on Sunday and delivered an emotional farewell to the murdered Kempton Park runner.

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The authorised fundraising campaign initially set a target of R50 000, but donations quickly pushed the total past R100 000. By Sunday, the fund had reportedly climbed above R230 000.

The initiative aims to support Khumo’s education and provide some financial stability in the years ahead.

RUNNERS RALLY AROUND KHUMO

Members of the running community started the campaign after Moselakgomo’s death.

The Reidlee running community, which Moselakgomo belonged to, helped drive the initiative after fellow runner Bonnie Suckling approached BackaBuddy about supporting her daughter.

Suckling, Simbulele Jezile and other runners made some of the first contributions before sharing the campaign through their networks.

BackaBuddy describes the campaign as verified and says the money will go towards supporting Moselakgomo’s daughter.

An educational trust has also been established for her.

Organisers said they wanted to create something that would support Khumo long after the immediate shock of her mother’s death had passed.

The campaign has since attracted hundreds of donors.

‘I HAVE GAINED A BEAUTIFUL ANGEL’

Khumo’s future became an even sharper focus at Sunday’s funeral when the eight-year-old read a poem to her mother.

She spoke about missing her mother and holding onto their memories as she grows older.

Toward the end of her tribute, Khumo described her mother as the angel she now carries with her.

“I have gained a beautiful angel in you,” she said.

She ended the poem as her mother’s “beautiful princess Khumo”.

Moselakgomo, 38, disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for an afternoon run earlier this month. Her body was found three days later in Rhodesfield.

Khumo was the first to realise her mother had failed to return at her usual time and alerted relatives, helping trigger the search.

TSONTSO REMEMBERED AS FAMILY’S PILLAR

Moselakgomo’s family also used Sunday’s funeral to remember the role she played after the death of their mother.

Her sister, Dikeledi Moselakgomo, said Tsontso had stepped in to support the family and helped fill the gap their mother left behind.

She described losing her sister as losing another pillar of strength.

Family, friends and members of the running community accompanied Moselakgomo on her final journey in Mpumalanga on Sunday.

Her death forms part of the wider investigation into women found dead across Ekurhuleni.

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