Alexandra children’s champion murdered
ALEXANDRA - Alexandra children have been robbed of a champion following the recent murder of Dr Ingrid Kock.
Alexandra children have been robbed of a champion following the recent murder of Dr Ingrid Kock.
Kock was strangled by intruders at her home in Randburg on 23 April. The culprit or culprits stole her two laptops, cellphone and flute. No arrests have been made and the police are still investigating the case.
An emotional memorial service was held in her honour on 1 May at Ratanang Youth Project which she supported. The project was initiated by 17-year-old pupil of Gresswold Senior School, Ratanang Hofman. The school is a special needs school for children with mild mental health disabilities in Balfour where Kock worked as a psychologist.
The project supports 50 children from five to 18 years old with free after school services which include daily meals, food parcels for home, help with reading, writing, and maths, physical activities such as traditional gumboot dancing, and chess to stimulate their mental development.
Eulogies from community members, children and family members painted a picture of Kock as a selfless person who ventured fearlessly into all corners of Alex to help children.
A teary Hofman said Kock was his beacon of hope and surrogate mother to the children. She had facilitated their supply of food and uniforms from corporates, transport for look and learn visits to Zoo Lake and the planetarium at Wits University.
The project operates from a structure with only a roof, but no walls. “Dr Kock had committed to build a safe and secure facility for the project to provide its services all year round,” said Hofman. “We will honour her obligation by soliciting for support and hopefully donors, corporates and individuals to assist us to sustain her legacy.”
A parent, Lerato Pieterse said Kock’s death was a huge loss of an educationist whose mentoring and nurturing support impacted the community and children in a positive way. Kock’s daughter, Nadia Winstone thanked the community for providing her mother a platform to express her love for humanity through their children. “She was a humble, spiritual activist for children with love that transcended culture, race and class,” she said. “She just wanted to make the world a better place where children can flourish and achieve their potential.”
