The body of missing eMbalenhle toddler, Khayone Pakeni (2) was found in the veld in Ext 15 this afternoon.
His devastated mother, Funeka Pakeni, told Ridge Times that she had identified her baby.
Khayone disappeared from their yard in Ext 16 on October 9 while his mother was in the house that morning.
Previous searches by the police and the community yielded no results.
The police announced a task team on October 18 to head up a large scale search for Khayone today.
According to Colonel Donald Mdhluli, police spokesman in Mpumalanga, members of the community alerted the investigation team from Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit about a child’s body in an open field in Extension 15, eMbalenhle.
“The team found the remains of the child wrapped in a blanket, and the clothes matched what the missing child was wearing at the time of his disappearance,” Mdhluli said in a media statement tonight.
A murder case has been opened.
Mdhluli said efforts are underway to apprehend the killer. The investigation remains ongoing.
Police urge the public to come forward with any information that could assist in the investigation by contacting the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.
All information received will be treated confidentially and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
Meanwhile the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has strongly condemned the crime and instructed the investigation team to work diligently to bring those responsible to justice.
The General further affirmed the dedication of the SAPS to pursue justice and expresses confidence in making a breakthrough in the investigation.
Khayone is the second toddler from Ext 16 murdered this year.
The four-year-old Thingo Mahlangu disappeared from the yard of his family home in April.
The two children lived near one another.
Thingo’s little body was found in a nearby veld weeks later. No arrests have been made yet.
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