#JusticeforLee: Blue and yellow to remember Lee

Losing a child is never easy, but losing a child and having to live with unanswered questions two years on is pure torture. This is what Kaylah Mentoor has to live with every day. She is the mother of three-year-old Liyaqat ‘Lee’ Mentoor, who went missing on 16 March 2018.

And, even though the man who is believed to be responsible for his disappearance, Onke Hartin Mashinini, 29, is in prison after being charged and sentenced for premeditated murder, obstructing the ends of justice and child neglect, the family is still no closer to getting answers as to what happened on that fateful day.

Read more here:

https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/03/18/missing-toddler-one-year-laterjusticeforlee-one-year-later-web/

On 16 March this year, the family and friends gathered in Roodekrans at the entrance gate to a section of the Botanical Garden, to put up blue and yellow balloons, flowers and posters in remembrance of Lee. This is only a few metres from Mashinini’s house where Lee was last seen alive, as well as the location where an extensive search took place.

“This time has not been as hard for me as the previous times. I think I am coping a bit better with the situation, and, even though I am crying, it is grateful tears more than sad tears. I am so thankful for all the continued support I am still receiving from family, friends and even the community, showing me that, even though it has already been two years since Lee’s disappearance, he has not been forgotten,” an emotional Kaylah said about the day’s gathering.

Those who could not join them on the day, showed their support by updating their WhatsApp status to Lee’s photo at 2pm on 16 March; almost 300 WhatsApp users participated.

She added that she believed that having thrown herself into her studies to help her cope with the loss of her son, has been a contributing factor in the healing process, but, being without answers or closure after two years, still bothers her. “Lee would have started Grade R this year, and when I am busy with my practicals for my studies and I see other little ones in this grade, I think that my baby is supposed to be here. I find myself wondering that, if he is still alive, if he started school, if he is happy and if he is making friends, and all sorts of other questions,” she said.

Read more:

https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/06/12/watch-justiceforlee-gone-but-fondly-remembered/

Kaylah explained that Wendy Pascoe from Pascoe Investigations is still working on the case and trying to get new leads to find answers for the family. “It is difficult for me to stay patient, but I am trying to be as we wait for answers to find him and get closure, as it has gone on for far too long now,” she said.

She concluded by thanking everyone for their continuous support throughout this journey and said, “I still strongly believe and have hope that he is alive and somewhere out there. We will not stop until we have answers.”