Community remember toddlers during activism march in eMbalenhle

The police, the Thuthuzela Care Centre and stakeholders, including the eMbalenhle CPF and traditional healers, marched from the taxi rank in Ext 17 to the places where the bodies of Thingo Mahlangu (4) and Khayone Pakeni (2) were found earlier this year.

December 6, 2024

Mphikeleli Masangu 2 minutes read

Traditional healers from the traditional healers organisation who were part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign performed an ancestral ritual at the place where Thingo Mahalgu's body was found.

The annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign began with a march in eMbalenhle on November 25.

The police, the Thuthuzela Care Centre and stakeholders, including the eMbalenhle CPF and traditional healers, marched from the taxi rank in Ext 17 to the places where the bodies of Thingo Mahlangu (4) and Khayone Pakeni (2) were found earlier this year.

Both Thingo and Khayone went missing and their bodies were dumped in the veld, not far from their homes. Thingo went missing on April 17 and his body was found in the veld late on the afternoon of May 2.

Khayone disappeared from his yard in Ext 16 on October 9 and his body was dumped in the veld on October 21. eMbalenhle SAPS, together with its stakeholders, erected two wooden crosses and laid flowers at each of the places where they found the bodies of the toddlers.

eMbalenhle children were part of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children march to remember the mysterious death of two eMbalenhle toddlers, Thingo Mahlangu(4) and Khayone Pakeni(2).

Colonel Maggie Mbokane, eMbalenhle Police station commander, said this signifies we will not forget these children.

“We hope and believe the police will arrest the culprits and be brought to justice for both families. If we work with the community, we can stop this from happening again. We want justice for the toddlers’ families,” said Mbokane.

Thingo’s grandmother, Albertina Mgentsu, told the Ridge Times that she and her family will not find closure until they get justice for her grandchild.

“Though I appreciate the support from the community and the police, visiting the scene has reopened wounds. It took us back to the day we were informed that Thingo’s body had been found.

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“The only thing that will bring closure, is the arrest and jail sentence of the perpetrator for the trauma that caused to us. Because of what happened, we kept my other grandchildren indoors.

“Children are children; they always want to play but we must protect them,” said Mgentsu.

Khayone’s mother, Funeka Pakeni, said she was praying that the suspects who murdered her baby be found and sentenced.

Pakeni has since relocated from Ext 16, after burying her son. She said by relocating, she was protecting her other children from being killed.

The 16 Days of Activism campaign aims to raise awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women and children and to rid society of abuse permanently.

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