Mourners pay last respects to murdered eMbalenhle toddler
A reward of R25 000 is offered to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
Residents came in numbers to pay their last respects to Khayone Pakeni (2) at his burial service held at Ext 18 known as Welas in eMbalenhle on October 26.
Little Khayone Xavier Pakeni disappeared at about 10:00 from a yard in Ext 16 in eMbalenhle on October 9 and his body was found in a field on October 21.
According to reports from the eMbalenhle Police, the toddler walked with his mother to a nearby school to get water on the morning of his disappearance.
Back at home, Khayone’s mother allowed him to play in the yard while she went inside to make tea. When she was done, she went outside again to check up on her son, but he was nowhere to be found.
The mother immediately sought help from neighbours, who joined in the search for the child without success.
The police announced a task team on October 18 to head up a large-scale search for Khayone. Khayone’s body was found in the veld in Ext 15, 10 days later.
Previous searches by the police and the community yielded no results. According to Colonel Donald Mdhluli, police spokesman in Mpumalanga, members of the community alerted the investigation team from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit about a child’s body in an open field in Ext 15.
The team found the remains of the child wrapped in a blanket, and the clothes matched what the missing child was wearing at the time of his disappearance. A murder case was opened.
Mdhluli said efforts are underway to apprehend the killer. The investigation remains ongoing. Pain and sorrow were on the face of Khayone’s mother, Funeka Pakeni, during his funeral service.
Community members, the CPF chairperson, Ace Vilakazi, Ward 10 Clr Lucky Ngwenya and the DA councirllor Anita Mkhwebane contributed to making sure that Khayone gets a dignified funeral.
Vilakazi encouraged the community to join the CFP to prevent more murdered children in eMbalenhle.
“As long as we as a community don’t unite in a fight against crime, incidents like this will continue,” he said.
Vilakazi discouraged the community from interfering in an investigation.
“When Khayone’s body was found, some people wanted to take the blanket in which he was covered to a sangoma to find the killer. That blanket is part of the investigation and had to be taken to the forensic lab for analysis.
“I know we are all angry about the murders of children in Ext 16, and that some people suspect it might be ritual killings, but let us allow the police to do their work,” said Vilakazi.
Mkhwebane said parents are worried about who would be next.
“I beg the police to move swiftly with their investigation and to arrest the killers. We have grandchildren and we cannot keep them indoors always. They always want to play with their friends.
“It is not only the police’s responsibility to find the perpetrators. We as the community need to assist them,” said Mkhwebane.
Khayone was laid to rest in the cemetery in Ext 14.
Police urge the public to provide them with information that can help in the investigation by contacting the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or by sending information via MYSAPSAPP.
A reward of R25 000 is offered to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
All information will be treated confidentially and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
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