After years of heartbreak and despair, the remains of slain University of Johannesburg student Palesa Madiba were handed over to her family at the Diepkloof mortuary, yesterday.
Gauteng premier David Makhura said Madiba lived a life full of promise, adding it was sad to handover her remains to her family while she left home alive.
“This is a very painful moment because you always hoped you’d get the news from us that we had found her alive.
“We are very sorry that today we bring you the remains of Palesa.
“Palesa lived a life full of promise.
“When you see your child passing Grade 12 and going to the university, you get hope that one day she will work and bring something back home.
“We know as parents that the last thing you need is to bury your children.
“Your children are the ones who are supposed to bury you,” he said.
Makhura assured the family and the public that investigations were continuing and that police would soon bring the perpetrators to book.
Madiba will be buried at the unnamed cemetery in a private funeral on Tuesday, according to family spokesperson Thabiso Tsoledi.
Tsoledi thanked the government, police, the media and the public for the contributions they made that led to the discovery of Madiba’s remains.
Madiba went missing in 2013 and her remains were discovered in a shallow grave at the backyard of her friend’s home in Phiri, Soweto on December 17, with the help of an anonymous tip off.
