Siphelele Nketo
AN extensive search for Ndalo Jona (7) ended in tragedy last week when his body was discovered along the road next to a local school in Kokstad.
His body was found by a woman who was collecting wood.
“He was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt,” the woman explained. According to police spokesperson Mosa Hlaki, the deceased had a deep wound on the neck and the body was starting to decompose.
Ndalo disappeared from his home in the Marikana informal settlement at around 7pm on July 12. He left home to look for his soccer ball outside the yard, but never returned. The shoes he was wearing were found in the yard on the same day he disappeared.
The area of Marikana has been plagued by incidents of missing children following the missing case of Lathitha Mtolo (7). Mtolo was last seen on February 26. Her remains were said to be found by the police after a skull was found in March. The family has rejected the police report and requested further DNA testing.
The Greater Kokstad Municipality mayor Lwanda Madikizela has called for an additional deployment of specialised resources to deal with the scourge of missing children. He mentioned a need for extra detectives from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit so as to prioritise all outstanding cases.
He further called for a multi-disciplinary task team that will involve SAPS, the Department of Social Development, Community Policing Forums, and the municipality to coordinate search efforts, conduct public awareness and offer support to affected families. Madikizela also called for increased visibility of police around schools, taxi ranks and high-risk areas during peak hours.
“The Kokstad municipality stands ready to work with SAPS and all stakeholders,” he said. He wrote a letter to KZN top cops to seek intervention. Ndalo Jona will be laid to rest on Friday, August 7, in KwaGogela outside the Kokstad town.
