We are raising money for Winni and her family who have been devastated by events that happened recently in our city.

On Monday, April 1, 2024 , Janayo Lucima, 21, was found with a gunshot wound.

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. He was only 21 years old.

Four people have since appeared in court charged with Janayo’s murder. A 22-year-old man; a 17-year-old boy, a 16 year-old boy and a second 22-year-old man, were remanded in custody. A trial date will be set in due course.

Violent crime takes an appalling toll on our city, inflicting terrible harm on victims, devastating families and traumatising communities.

Janayo’s teacher and friends describe him as “quiet,” “friendly,” “well-mannered,” “always willing to help,” “a musical talent and played the violin and loved singing and used to tour musical choral group” and one of the kindest people you would meet with a smile that could light up the room. He adored his large family, especially his two younger siblings, all his aunties, cousins and his grandmother who moved back to Uganda. Janayo had hoped that someday he would go back to Uganda and visit his family who still live there.

Janayo’s life could have been so different. Sadly Janayo was groomed by older criminals that prey on impressionable youth and was lured into a world no young person should ever be exposed to. Drugs and violence, especially knife and gun crime have no place in any community and more should be done to try and stop young people when they've been exploited. He was young when this happened and was forced and pressured into an impossible position no young man should ever be put in. Sadly it had terrible consequences.

In recent years Janayo made attempts to leave that life behind. He recently started an apprenticeship in construction and making positive changes. We have heard these types of stories many times, but unfortunately, most young black boys are not given a second chance and there are many who are not alive to get one.

Life looks a lot different for his family. His younger brother, sister and mother have to live with the trauma which is unimaginable. They need closure and they hope to send Janayo's body back to Uganda to be laid to rest in his ancestral family home. as his final resting place .

As family and friends we would appreciate it if you could make a donation rather than send flowers as all money will be used to directly support Winni, and Janayo's brother and sister overcome the trauma and help with the funerals costs.

Thank you