By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The body of three-year-old Mojalefa Savhuli was found floating inside a dam near Harmony Gold Mine in Roodepoort on Thursday morning.
His body has been positively identified by his family. This comes after Mojalefa went missing on Freedom Day this past Sunday, 27 April 2025.
Residents suspect the toddler was killed somewhere and dumped in the dam.
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said, Mojalefa’s body was discovered in a nearby stream in Tshepisong Phase 1.
“We are not sure whether the child was killed somewhere and dumped in this dam, or whether he walked to the dam and drowned. That one, we are not sure. It will be part of the investigation, “said Masondo.
Masondo has confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened.
Mojalefa’s disappearance underscores a broader crisis in South Africa. In 2024, SAPS reported 507 missing children cases by mid-December, with over 200 still unresolved. Kidnapping, human trafficking, and underreporting are key drivers, particularly in vulnerable communities like Tshepisong.
The Western Cape and Gauteng, including areas like Roodepoort, consistently report high numbers of missing persons cases due to urban density and socio-economic challenges.
Recent cases highlight the severity of the issue. For example, in February 2025, SAPS sought public assistance to locate a missing boy in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, and earlier this year, two minors went missing in Thabong, Free State. These incidents reflect the ongoing strain on law enforcement and community resources.
Meanwhile the missing VW Polo vehicle has been retrieved from the Hennops River, where the bodies of five police officers were discovered earlier this week.
SAPS National Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said, “I can confirm that the search team retrieved a car wreck from the Hennops River this afternoon. Items, including a handbag, were found inside the vehicle.
“Since then, five bodies and car parts have been recovered along the river as the police continue their investigation into what may have happened.”
National commissioner Fannie Masemola said, “The retrieval of the vehicle and bodies will bring some measure of closure to the families of the fallen officers and our colleagues. It has been a long and difficult process, but we hope this will help us determine what happened on that tragic day.”
Mathe indicated that multiple specialised units, including SAPS drone teams, cybercrime experts, the Hawks, Gauteng Traffic Airwing, and Bidvest Protea Coin Airwing, were supporting the investigation.
Masemola emphasised that investigations were still ongoing, and that they are working diligently to uncover the full story behind the officers’ cause of deaths.