A fence at a cul-de-sac in Roodekrans, adorned with blue and yellow balloons and flowers, may appear festive at first glance. A closer look, however, reveals a sombre reality.

On Monday, March 16, family and friends gathered at the site to mark eight years since the disappearance of three-year-old Liyaqat ‘Lee’ Mentoor. The location is believed to be the last place he was seen. Balloons bearing messages and floral tributes were placed in his memory.

Also read: #HelpFindLee: Roodepoort toddler missing

The man in whose care Lee was left in 2018, Onke Mashinini, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder in October 2019. Despite this, the Mentoor family said they have never received clear answers about what happened to the child, and his body has never been found.

Also read: #JusticeForLee: Breaking: Mashinini sentenced to 45 years behind bars

Lee’s mother, Kaylah Mentoor, said the past few years have been extremely difficult, although she is gradually learning to cope.

“The only thing keeping me going is that we don’t have closure. Even though the case concluded that he was murdered, we don’t have a body to bury, which makes it difficult to accept that he is no longer with us. At the same time, I am trying to come to terms with the possibility that we may never get the closure we want, as there have been no updates on the case,” she said.

She described Lee as a loving, happy and helpful child, wise beyond his years.

“He was very observant, always watching what adults were doing and trying to do the same. He was too understanding for a child, and that is what breaks my heart the most. He had everything and lacked nothing,” she said.

Lee’s grandmother, Heidi Botha, echoed these sentiments, saying his disappearance had a profound impact on the family.

“It is something we carry with us every day, but it becomes especially heavy during birthdays and anniversaries. We have had to learn to live with uncertainty, which is one of the hardest things any family can face,” she said.

Also read: #JusticeforLee: Blue and yellow to remember Lee

Botha added that her children helped her remain strong during the ordeal.

“I had to set an example and stay positive, especially for Kaylah. I am grateful for the time I had with such a beautiful little angel,” she said.

Both Mentoor and Botha expressed deep appreciation for the support they received from the community, particularly from City of Johannesburg Speaker Margaret Arnolds and community activist Cheryl Pillay.

“The support from the community has meant everything to us. I don’t know what we would have done without it. A special thank you to Cheryl and her team for standing by us from the beginning and helping us keep Lee’s memory alive,” Mentoor said.

The family continues to honour Lee’s memory by speaking about him, celebrating his birthday and reflecting on cherished moments.

“We do not want anyone to forget him. He did not deserve what happened to him,” she said.

Arnolds, who has been involved in the case since the beginning, said the City of Johannesburg remains committed to supporting families of missing persons.

“We work closely with the police, community policing forums, ward committees, NGOs and victim support centres to ensure cases receive attention and that families are not left without support. Through our social development programmes, we aim to provide access to counselling and other support services,” she said.

She urged residents to report missing persons immediately to their nearest police station, emphasising that there is no waiting period.

“Preventing tragedies like this requires a collective effort. Communities are often the first line of defence. When residents, local leaders and government structures work together, we can create safer environments for our children. We urge anyone with information to come forward. Your voice could help bring answers, accountability and some measure of closure to a family that has waited far too long,” Arnolds said.