The family of Amaan Khan, the schoolboy who drowned, held a prayer service at Umzumbe Beach, in Hibberdene on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Saturday to help the family get closure.
It has been a month since Amaan was pulled into the sea by a rip current.
Amaan, 13, from Kharwastan in Chatsworth, was holidaying with his family on the south coast when he drowned on February 1.
Amaan’s uncles, Asif and Ridwaan Khan, attempted to rescue him. Asif also drowned but was later pulled from the water.
Saleem Adam, Amaan’s dad, said family and friends gathered at the beach where a priest conducted a prayer.
"As we begin our month-long fast and prayer for Ramadan, the family came to terms that we will not be able to conduct searches along the beach. We respect the holy month. More prayer will be offered during this month. Hopefully during this month there will be some news of finding Amaan.
"The prayer on Saturday was to get personal closure. The family is torn apart. It has been hard and traumatic for the family. After the heavy rains last week and there was news of bodies washing ashore, we hoped it would be Amaan, but it wasn't.
"We feel for those who also lost their loved ones. We felt their pain," said Adam.
Since Amaan's disappearance extensive searches were conducted extending to the north and south of the area, but have proved fruitless thus far.
Dawn Gounden, of Renegades Search and Rescue, said they will continue their search for Amaan.
"We have done sea searches, air, ground and off shore searches. We will continue to be vigilant and follow-up on any leads. This past month has not been easy on the family. He was a child. No parent should have to go through such pain and trauma," said Gounden.
Amaan was a Hollywoodbets Dolphins club and hub player.