Friends, family mourn Katlego’s (9) death
“My heart is broken. I will always remember my son’s beautiful smile and the sound of his laughter” - Nancy Lesenya., mother of deceased.
MOKOPANE – Child Protection Week started on a tragic note this week with the murder of Katlego Lesenya (9), a gr. 4 learner at Mokopane Primary School.
The body of Katlego was retrieved on Monday afternoon by members of the K9 unit and the search and rescue team after he went missing on 21 May. Katlego was last seen in Mzombane village about 15 km outside of Mokopane in the company of Jimmy Makhubela (31) his mother’s boyfriend.
Provincial Police Spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto, reported: “It is alleged that his mother Nancy (38) a sergeant attached to the Mokopane Family Violence and Sexual offence Unit and Makhubela had ended their relationship the day before Katlego went missing.”
Makhubela was arrested over the weekend on a charge of kidnapping in Lephalale and on Monday afternoon he pointed out the area where he allegedly dumped Katlego’s body. “The area was searched and his body was found in a deep ravine where it was thrown from a bridge in the Mmamatlakala area in Bakenberg. A postmortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” Otto said.
Makhubela appeared before the Mokerong Magistrate’s Court in Mahwelereng on Monday on a charge of kidnapping and the case was postponed to 13 June where he now will be facing charges of kidnapping and murder.
Nancy told Bosveld: “My heart is broken. I will always remember my son’s beautiful smile and the sound of his laughter.”
Mokopane Primary School said: “Katlego was a very clever boy and a very hard worker. He will be remembered for his sunny and friendly personality. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family. His fellow learners said he always encouraged them to work hard and he always had a joke up his sleeve. A memorial service will be held for Katlego today (Friday) in Mzombane Village at 12:30.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
