Mom of murdered toddler relives nightmare as community searches for another missing boy in eMbalenhle
“How many children must die before the police take action? First Thingo was murdered, and now Khayone is missing. This needs urgent action from our law enforcement agencies.”
Searching for two-year-old Khayone Pakeni in eMbalenhle’s Ext 16 has brought back memories to Nhlanhla Mahlangu of the devastating time when her own little boy disappeared.
Mahlangu’s son, Thingo (4) disappeared from their home in Ext 16 in April. Numerous searches by the police and the community produced nothing. Weeks later, in May, his half-naked body was found in a veld close to his home.
“It is as if I am reliving the nightmare,” said Mahlangu.
Despite her own trauma, Mahlangu is helping to search for Khayone, who vanished from his parents’ yard in Ext 16 on October 9.
“My heart is breaking for this baby’s mother, Funeka Pakeni. I know the pain and worry of having to go to bed not knowing where your child is,” she said.
Mahlangu and Pakeni live close to each other.
To spare Pakeni the same trauma and pain of losing a child, Mahlangu appealed to the police and the community to move swiftly in finding Khayone.
“Funeka was there when I went through all this trauma. At the time, my situation also traumatised her. I am now trying to be strong for her sake, but it is not easy. This situation brings back the memories of my little Thingo.”
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Mahlangu expressed her distress to Ridge Times that the murderer of her child has not yet been caught.
“How many children must die before the police take action?
“First Thingo was murdered, and now Khayone is missing. This needs urgent action from our law enforcement agencies,” lamented Mahlangu.
“My family is still in pain,” said Mahlangu.
A search by the police’s K9 unit around the Pakeni home on Thursday yielded no results.
Constable Busi Mthethwa, the eMbalenhle police spokesperson, asked the community to help the Pakeni family and the police search for Khayone.
She pleaded with the community to provide the police with information rather than taking the law into their own hands.
“As a community, you are our eyes and ears. If anyone has information regarding Khanyone’s disappearance, let us know so that we can do our work,” said Mthethwa.
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