Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

The son of Sowetan's former editor-in-chief Aggrey Klaaste has condemned the vandals who destroyed his father's tombstone a day after it was unveiled.

Langa Klaaste said the vandals have no compassion.

"They have really hurt us and I do not know why anyone would do that to the family."

Meanwhile, a case of desecrating a grave is being investigated. Kliptown police spokesman Inspector William Masondo said they had no positive leads yet.

Klaaste said speculation on who damaged the tombstone would put more strain on the family than it already had.

"We just want whoever that did it to come forward and admit so that everything can go back to normal," he said."

The tombstone cost R100000 and his wife, Pinky, said she did not know how much the damage would cost, though it was insured.

Attended by dignitaries and former colleagues, the unveiling ceremony was held on Saturday at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto.

The former editor-in-chief died on June 19 2004. He launched the newspaper's nation-building campaign, which is based on ubuntu.

Today nation-building projects form the backbone of the Sowetan's corporate social investment programmes.