Residents of Fluerhof have gathered outside the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court in western Johannesburg, ahead of the first appearance of a 31-year-old woman arrested in connection with the murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek.
The woman, who is a close relative of the child, was arrested on Friday.
In May, the little boy’s body was found on the staircase of the complex in which he lived. The body was found with multiple bruises.
The boy had gone missing after the scholar transport reportedly dropped him off. These Fluerhof residents say that justice must be served for Jayden’s brutal murder.
“Bring the death penalty back, today we are pleading with our government to bring the death penalty back, we are pleading please, because these murderers won’t stop. ….. It’s sad you know after Friday it’s painful and upsetting that why was he not protected by those that loved him and were supposed to take care of him, so I don’t even think that justice is going to do anything because people are in there and they study, and they get things that we don’t get that’s outside,” resident says.
Meanwhile, ActionSA member of Parliament, Dereleen James, says she believes that if police had searched all the apartments in the complex when the boy went missing, his life would have been saved.
James says the police’s inability to act swiftly ultimately resulted in Jayden’s brutal death.
“Well, as much as we have been looking for a suspect, I think I have known for the longest time who the suspect was. But this morning, it’s mixed emotions because the very person meant to protect this young boy is allegedly embroiled in this case. It’s a sad day, but I think that I am going to maintain my stance that SAPS have dismally failed this child. Had they searched all the departments in that complex? I strongly and firmly believe that the life of Jayden-Lee Meek could have been saved,” James explains.
VIDEO | Suspect believed to be related to Meek: Update from Lopang Alamu
