The 14-year-old boy,  who was found near a shopping centre in Edenvale yesterday and taken to the Edenvale Police Station on June 6, had run away from home.

This was discovered after further investigations were conducted into the case.

The teenager originally told the police that his parents had died and he was trying to visit a sick grandmother in Krugersdorp.

“The boy stated that a farmer from Tzaneen gave him a lift to Edenvale,” said the Edenvale SAPS communications officer, Warrant Officer Jean Olckers.

W/O Olckers said the boy ran away because of alleged abuse at his home.

“The boy has been placed in a place of safety,” said W/O Olckers. The matter will be investigated further by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) unit.

“Children must know that they can open up to police officers about abuse and break the silence on abuse of any nature,” said W/O Olckers.

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