Community shaken after second child’s body found near Mount Currie
KOKSTAD — The discovery of seven-year-old Ndalo Jona in a forest near Mount Currie High School has renewed alarm across Kokstad and intensified calls for a specialised police investigative unit to examine a string of child disappearance cases. The mayor of the Greater Kokstad Municipality, Lwanda Madikizela, has formally appealed to KwaZulu-Natal Police Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for a dedicated task team to probe whether recent cases are linked and to ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
According to family members, Ndalo disappeared on 12 July after leaving home to look for his soccer ball. He was carrying a cellphone and had been playing games shortly before he vanished. An extensive search involving relatives, community volunteers, residents and police followed his disappearance, and his body was later recovered in a forested area close to the high school.
The recovery of Ndalo’s body comes months after the discovery of the remains of another seven-year-old, Lathitha Mtolo, who went missing on 26 February. Lathitha disappeared after leaving home to visit a friend; her remains were found in the same general area near Mount Currie.
Similarities between the cases fuel concern
While provincial police have urged caution about drawing links between the two cases, the mayor and local residents point to several disturbing parallels that have heightened public anxiety:
- Both children were seven years old.
- Both originated from KwaGogela village near Mount Ayliff.
- Both disappeared from Marikana Township in Kokstad and were later found dead in the same general area.
Those patterns have driven the mayor’s call for a focused investigative unit capable of examining forensic evidence, movements and timelines across the separate investigations to determine whether the incidents are isolated or part of a broader criminal pattern.
Broader impact on the community
Residents and volunteers who joined searches after each disappearance say the community remains traumatised. The mayor’s appeal to the provincial police commander reflects growing pressure for a coordinated response that could offer both reassurance and results.
Police involvement in the searches has been ongoing. In a related incident earlier this year, a three-year-old from Marikana Township, Banele Mshubi, also went missing; that case led to the arrest of the child’s parents while investigators examined allegations that a domestic dispute may have contributed to the disappearance.
| Date | Child | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|
| 26 February | Lathitha Mtolo | Disappeared after leaving home to visit a friend; remains later found near Mount Currie area. |
| 12 July | Ndalo Jona | Disappeared after leaving home to look for a soccer ball; body recovered in forest near Mount Currie High School. |
| Earlier this year | Banele Mshubi (3) | Disappeared from Marikana Township; parents were arrested while investigators probed domestic-dispute allegations. |
Community leaders have pressed for more visible policing, improved investigative coordination and rapid forensic follow-up. The mayor’s request for a specialised task team aims to centralise expertise and resources so investigators can work across the separate matters with a single mandate.
Police have been asked to clarify whether they will accede to the mayor’s request and what additional resources will be deployed in Kokstad. For many residents, swift answers and accountable progress are now urgent priorities.
The recent series of disappearances and deaths has left parents, schools and caregivers reviewing safety measures for children who walk to play, attend sport and move between homes and friends. Local community groups say they will continue to assist searches and support bereaved families while pressing for greater clarity from investigators.
As the investigations continue, authorities in Kokstad face the twin challenges of providing immediate reassurance to a shaken community and conducting thorough, methodical inquiries that can withstand legal scrutiny and deliver justice.
