Autistic toddler’s body discovered days after Freedom Day disappearance — community mourns heartbreaking loss
A week of desperate searching ended in heartbreak on Thursday when the body of three-year-old Mojalefa Ndivho Savhuli was discovered floating in a dam near the Harmony Gold Mine in Roodepoort.
According to Kaya News, a group of boys heading to a nearby soccer field made the grim discovery and alerted authorities. A diver was dispatched to retrieve the toddler’s body, which has since been positively identified by his family.
Mojalefa went missing on Freedom Day, Sunday, April 27, after being last seen at a local playing field in Tshepisong. His mother, Murunwa Savhuli, took to social media with a heartfelt plea, sharing a missing persons alert that quickly circulated online:
“My son went missing this afternoon from his home in Tshepisong, Roodepoort. He is 3 years old and mostly still speaks child-speak. Please help us find him. Any retweet or shares will go a long way.”
Murunwa reported her son’s disappearance to the Roodepoort Police Station, and the local community rallied to search for him, with residents combing the area for days. Mojalefa, who was reportedly living with autism, was wearing green shorts, a yellow jersey, and black shoes at the time he went missing.
The exact circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation by authorities. The community has expressed grief and frustration, with many calling for increased safety measures near open water bodies, especially in residential and recreational areas.
As tributes and condolences pour in on social media, Mojalefa’s story has touched the hearts of many across the country — a painful reminder of the vulnerability of children and the importance of community vigilance.
