The Roodepoort community has been left in shock and mourning following the discovery of the body of 11-year-old Jayden Lee Meek, who was reported missing the night before.
What happened to Jayden Lee Meek? – Here’s what we know
Jayden was last seen on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, after being dropped off by his school transport in Fleurhof.
He was wearing his school uniform at the time. When he did not return home as expected, his family reported him missing to the Florida Police Station, prompting a search effort involving the police and the local Community Policing Forum (CPF).
The CPF assisted by creating and sharing a missing person flyer across social media platforms and among residents in the area.
Despite these efforts, Jayden was found dead the following morning, Wednesday, 14 May 2025, in a block of flats in Fleurhof.
According to Florida CPF chairperson Farhaad Sardiwalla, the circumstances of Jayden’s death remain under investigation. However, it is suspected that he may have been assaulted.
His family, devastated by the discovery, expressed frustration with how the case has been handled by authorities.
One family member described how they had to pressure both police and security staff to take urgent action.
“I’m glad the community came out and supported, but we are just devastated,” said a relative.
“We are frustrated and scared for our children… What must we do? Should we keep our kids at home? Keep them in a prison?”
The family claims that when they arrived at the location where Jayden’s body was found, there was no proper police presence, and the scene was not secured.
“There were people walking around on that spot. Now, when they brought the dogs, the dogs are walking past the spot because it is contaminated,” the relative added.
There is also concern that police have not conducted a thorough investigation inside the building where Jayden was found.
“They don’t want to go door-to-door to check if there is evidence,” another family member said.
“We’ve been fighting with them. We had to ask for information.”
As of now, no arrests have been made. The police have not confirmed any suspects or shared any updates regarding the cause of death.
The community remains on edge, with residents calling for increased security and proper investigations into what they fear may not be an isolated incident.