5-year-old mute boy laid to rest
In an emotional funeral service on Friday, Lesley Malibongwe Dube’s remains arrived at his home in a small box covered in a blue blanket for the first time since his disappearance four months ago.
As members of the Zithobeni community gathered to bid farewell to a five-year-old boy, whose remains were found at a plot in Bronkhorstspruit, community members called for justice to be served.
Lesley Malibongwe Dube went missing while playing in the yard of his Zithobeni home in May.
His remains, which consisted mainly of bones and the clothes that he was wearing on the day of his disappearance, were found in Roodepoort Farm some 6km from his home.
In an emotional funeral service on Friday, the boy’s remains arrived at his home in a small box covered in a blue blanket for the first time since his disappearance.
His mother, Thembi, sobbed as she walked to her child’s coffin where she screamed out for her child.
Calling for justice, community leader Kgaugelo Phiri said leaders would be following up on the case to seek justice for the boy.
“This was not an accident. Someone took this child, [killed him] and then disposed of the body. We have never seen anything like this and I believe it is the last time,” he said.
“We must make sure the truth is uncovered about what happened to this child so that it does not ever happen again.
“I believe that the person who did this lives in our community. With the technology available, police can find out who did this and how.”
Phiri, who along with many others, led searches in open fields and on social media with hopes of finding the boy, said the deliberate act of cruelty should not go unpunished.
Lesley’s grandfather, Thabani, said his grandson’s death was a call for action.
“Whose child will be next?” he said.
“If this person strikes again, what will we do? What are we doing as the community to fight crimes like these?
“If we do nothing, this person will strike again.”
Lesley was laid to rest at the Bronkhorstspruit cemetery.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact the investigating officer Sergeant Mabusha at 071 675 7300.
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