Parents of murdered eMbalenhle toddlers are still crying for justice

Since the bodies of toddlers Thingo Mahlangu (4) and Khayone Pakeni (2) were found dumped in the veld not far from their homes in Ext 16 last year, their families are still waiting for justice.

Khayone’s mother, Funeka Pakeni, told Ridge Times it was difficult for her to celebrate the festive holidays without Khayone.

“I travelled to my parents’s home in the Eastern Cape for the Christmas holidays, hoping that if I leave eMbalenhle for a while, I will heal. However, the trip without Khayone was more traumatising than the time just after he was murdered.

“It was also difficult for me to enjoy the season like those around me,” said Pakeni.

This grieving mother is upset that the police do not update her about their investigation.

“That means they don’t care!”

She has decided to look for the murderer herself this year. “My child’s spirit won’t rest in peace unless the murderer is found,” said Pakeni in tears.

Khayone disappeared from their yard in Ext 16 on October 9 last year while his mother was in the house. His little body was found dumped in the veld in Ext 15 after days of searches by the police and the community yielded no results.

The police announced a task team on October 18 to head up a large-scale search for Khayone. His body was found in the veld on the day of the search.

Thingo Mahlangu went missing on April 17, and on May 9 his partially dressed body was found in the field not far from his home, days after searches by the police and the community yielded no results.

Thingo’s mother, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, told Ridge Times the family has lost faith in eMbalenhle police. She said no arrests have been made since her toddler’s murder.

“As a family, we even told the police about the people whom we suspect might have murdered my child, but up to today, the police did nothing with this information.

“A community member allegedly saw people dumping something in the veld on the evening before my child’s body was found, but the police didn’t even border to follow that information.

“Those suspects are still out here and we see them every day,” said Mahlangu.

The eMbalenhle police spokesperson, Constable Busi Mthethwa, said no one has yet been arrested in connection with the murders of the two little boys. The police are still waiting for results from their science laboratory.

Mthethwa said samples were collected on both scenes and were taken to the laboratory for analysis. She said the investigation continues.

ALSO CHECK: Local helps the community of Standerton

ALSO CHECK: Little Paws Big Hearts needs support to continue its outreaches