Nine-year-old boy found dead in the veld

Mother alleges that her stepfather killed him

The mother of a nine-year-old boy who was found dead in the veld near a dam in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, is heartbroken.

“I feel like I have been stabbed with a dagger in my heart,” Lungile Sibanyoni, 24, told Sowetan yesterday.

She said she had last seen her son Nhlanhla on Thursday morning. Sibanyoni got a call from her younger sister while consulting a doctor later that afternoon. The sister was worried that her son was not yet back from school. “Little did I know that was the call that would change my life forever and [spell] the beginning of my nightmare.” Sibanyoni said she was told to rush to Sikhulisile Primary School for an urgent meeting that had been called by the police for all parents who have children at the school. “My heart started pounding because I could feel the sadness in my sister on the phone. I knew something was not right,” she recalled.

“Upon my arrival at the school I just started shaking when I saw people crying, looking like they were at a funeral. “The police then called me and told me my son was found dead in the bushes that afternoon. I collapsed.”

Police spokesperson Constable Connie Moganedi confirmed that the body of the boy was found by locals.

She said police were investigating a case of murder but no arrests had been made.

Sibanyoni said when she got home family members claimed her son was last seen with her stepfather.

She said one relative alleged the man had left the boy’s school bag, shirt and jersey with them and said he would get them later.

“My stepfather has gone missing since then and I know he killed him, because me and him don’t get along,” she alleged. Police could not confirm whether they were looking for the unnamed man.