Jayden-Lee Meek's mother, Tiffany Meek, weeps as she appears in court for his murder
Tiffany Nicole Meek, aged 31, wept uncontrollably in the dock on Monday as she appeared in court for the murder of her son, murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek.
The bail application did not proceed on Monday and the case was postponed to July 18.
A month ago, IOL reported that residents of Fleurhof marched to the Florida police station in Gauteng, calling for justice after the tragic death of the 11-year-old boy.
Last week, Gauteng police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the "close relative" was arrested on Friday morning, following extensive investigations by Florida detectives with the assistance of the provincial investigative unit and tracking team.
Jayden-Lee was reported missing in May 2025 by his mother and was later found unconscious on the staircase of the apartment he was residing at in Fleurhof. He was declared dead at the hospital.
'A case of murder was opened and police conducted investigations which led to the arrest of the woman. She is expected to appear before Roodepoort Magistrates' Court on (Monday) 14 July 2025 on a charge of murder,' said Nevhuhulwi.
According to police, Jayden-Lee was dropped off by his school transport in the afternoon, but he never arrived home. The following day, his lifeless body was discovered undressed on a staircase within the residential complex where he lived.
The boy had sustained multiple bruises, and his body was found several hours after he was reported missing.
According to reports, his body was still warm and clean. He had no blood on him, but visible abrasions could be seen, indicating a possible assault.
When relatives were notified, Jayden-Lee was rushed to the hospital, however, he was declared dead on arrival.
In May, IOL reported that, at their own expense, members of a Johannesburg-based women's rights organisation travelled to Cape Town to picket outside Parliament in a desperate bid to force the police to take decisive action in the brutal murder case of Jayden-Lee.
The Women Empowerment Platform (WEP), led by founder Natalie Solomons, joined local activists and community leaders in calling for justice after Jayden-Lee's body was found just metres from his home in Fleurhof, Roodepoort.
The organisation is urging Parliament and the Portfolio Committee on Police to prioritise the case and ensure that an arrest is made.
'We got involved in the Jayden case because it's a child who was murdered in the very community we serve,' said Solomons.
'I still can't get the picture of how he was found that morning out of my head. It was a very evil sight to see – I don't know how somebody can do that to a little boy. I'm a mother. There's no way I could turn away from this. That's why we travelled from Johannesburg to Parliament. We want action. Someone needs to be held accountable.'
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
40 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Shadrack Sibiya placed on leave
Here's your daily news update for Tuesday, 15 July 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. In the news today, Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya has been placed on leave. Meanwhile, the Gauteng Department of Education is investigating allegations that 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek had reported abuse to his school before his death. Furthermore, a Gauteng court has ordered tech giant Meta to shut down certain anonymous Instagram accounts and WhatsApp Channels distributing explicit child pornography. Weather tomorrow: 16 July 2025 Fine and cool conditions are forecast nationwide, with partial cloudiness and morning fog in some provinces. Isolated drizzle is expected along the Wild Coast. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya placed on leave of absence [VIDEO] National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has confirmed that Deputy National Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, has been placed on leave. Sibiya's suspension on Tuesday follows a series of explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi two weeks ago. Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya. Picture: X/@ZizinjaAbelungu Masemola tasked Deputy Commissioner Tebello Mosikili to request that Sibiya take leave. 'It is a leave of absence while we are doing the internal process,' Masemola said. CONTINUE READING: Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya placed on leave of absence [VIDEO] Authorities looking into claims murdered 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek was abused The Gauteng Department of Education is investigating allegations that 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek had reported abuse to his school before his death. The department promised action if it were found that proper protocols were not followed. Residents march to Florida Police Station demanding answers following the death of Jayden-Lee Meek on 17 May 2025 in Roodepoort. Picture: Gallo Images Jayden-Lee's mother, 31-year-old Tiffany Nicole Meek, on Monday appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court, charged with his murder and will apply for bail on Friday. A private investigator told eNCA that Jayden-Lee was severely beaten and that the perpetrator allegedly tried to cover up the murder by cleaning the scene with ammonia products and thick bleach agents. CONTINUE READING: Authorities looking into claims murdered 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek was abused Meta ordered to shut down Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels posting sexual content of SA schoolchildren [VIDEO] The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ordered tech giant Meta to shut down certain anonymous Instagram accounts and WhatsApp Channels distributing explicit child pornography involving South African schoolchildren. Judge Mudunwazi Makamu handed down the judgment in order sought by Digital Law Company, directed by social media law expert Emma Sadlier, on Monday. Meta's Instagram and WhatsApp are in hot water. Picture: iStock In the ruling, Makamu agreed with the arguments by advocate Ben Winks that children have been victimised by the publication of lurid material. CONTINUE READING: Meta ordered to shut down Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels posting sexual content of SA schoolchildren [VIDEO] Gigaba's ex-wife on leaked sex video: 'We were blackmailed for almost six months' The ex-wife of Malusi Gigaba, Norma Mngoma, has given insight into the 2018 leaked video of the politician's private sex video 'We were blackmailed, I think [for] almost six months. They were demanding like money, I think it started from a million,' said Mngoma in the latest episode of Untied on Showmax. Norma Mngoma's episode on Untied has finally been aired after Malusi Gigaba tried to halt it. Picture: Supplied Mngoma shared how the figure decreased from the initial one million to approximately R800,000. 'He was negotiating with some comrades about it. But for me, I didn't know what was this video until the person called me because he [Gigaba] didn't tell me that time,' she said. CONTINUE READING: Gigaba's ex-wife on leaked sex video: 'We were blackmailed for almost six months' Pagad member Faizel Felix rearrested after 8 years on the run A 52-year-old member of People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) who had evaded authorities for eight years was arrested in Wynberg on Monday. Faizel Felix appeared briefly in court on Monday, facing charges of illegal firearm possession. Faizel Felix. Image: Department of Justice, Crime Prevention and Security/ X Felix was apprehended by the Hawks Crimes Against the State (Cats) team in the Western Cape on a warrant that had been outstanding since 2016, according to the Department of Justice, Crime Prevention and Security. The department confirmed that 'Felix, has been on the run for the past 8 years' following his failure to appear in court after being granted bail in 2015. CONTINUE READING: Pagad member Faizel Felix rearrested after 8 years on the run Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Jayden-Lee's mother in the dock | Who is Firoz Cachalia? | Mchunu's career on the ropes
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
'Crime she didn't commit': Jayden-Lee Meek's grandmother defends 'killer mom'
The maternal grandmother of Jayden-Lee Meek has defended her daughter Tiffany, whom she claims is not guilty of murder. Debbie Dunn has accused police and activists of trying to 'discredit' her daughter by keeping them away from the courtroom. Tiffany appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Monday, 14 July, on charges of murder, defeating the ends of justice, and crimen injuria. Exactly two months earlier, Jayden-Lee was found dead outside his apartment complex after reportedly going missing hours earlier. He suffered a blunt force head injury and was reportedly severely beaten. Speaking in a TikTok video accompanied by her son, Debbie Dunn claimed that her daughter, Tiffany, was not guilty of the murder of Jayden-Lee Meek. In the clip, the grandmother claims she was 'deeply disappointed' in the police investigation as well as the prosecution of her daughter 'over a crime she did not commit'. Dunn claimed that Tiffany's family, friends, and attorney were present at court, but they were unable to access the courtroom where she appeared. Jayden-Lee Meek's mother Tiffany has been accused of his murder. She made her first appearance in court this week. Images via Facebook/ eNCA She said: 'It is so clear that the police, prosecutors, and activists are working together to ensure that Tiffany was not represented in court on her first appearance and that her loved ones were not inside to give her love and support'. Dunn added: 'We hope that she will be given a fair bail hearing and trial. We have lost faith and hope in the criminal system.' Tiffany has faced backlash for spending the night at her mom's house, and not her own, on the night Jayden-Lee Meek went missing. @forever11_jayden we were there, yet the hearing was hush hush and they made sure we were not present.. all this just to further discredit her. ♬ original sound – Debbie Dunn Meanwhile, a private investigator offered insight into what he believed happened to Jayden-Lee Meek. Speaking anonymously to eNCA, the investigator stated that the body was warm and fresh, indicating that he had been killed shortly before his discovery. The body was covered with bruises and abrasions. Forensic investigation in the apartment Jayden-Lee shared with his mother, Tiffany, revealed that blood stains had been scrubbed clean with detergent. Blood was discovered on Jayden-Lee's school clothes, underwear, and his schoolbooks. The investigator claims that there was an attempt to conceal evidence. According to a charge sheet, Jayden-Lee Meek's mother discouraged police from searching inside her apartment. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
From Wimbledon into Cabinet: How Cachalia ignored Ramaphosa's calls while watching tennis
Prof. Firoz Cachalia said he could hear his phone ringing, but kept ignoring the calls, not knowing that it was President Cyril Ramaphosa seeking to inform him of the appointment. Image: Facebook Professor Firoz Cachalia said he could hear his mobile phone ringing, but he ignored the incessant incoming calls as he was glued to the television, watching the Wimbledon final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. IOL this week reported that in a surprise move, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the academic as acting minister of police, after a bruising week of intense scrutiny following the bombshell allegations by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Ramaphosa placed embattled Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, on leave of absence and initiated a commission of inquiry to investigate Mkhwanazi's allegations. On Tuesday, Cachalia relived the time he finally answered the phone call by the Presidency, and Ramaphosa informed him about the epic appointment into Cabinet. "It was Sunday. I was relaxing, watching sport, the Wimbledon, and I was looking forward to the football. I have a loft upstairs where the phone was being charged and it has a very slight ring tone. I heard the ringtone from time to time but I ignored the call because I was charging the phone. It turns out that the Presidency had been trying to get hold of me for much of the day," Cachalia spoke to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "Eventually, they got hold of my brother, Justice Cachalia, he called, but I was ignoring the phone actually. I am not gonna be able to do that anymore. Then they got hold of my wife, and my wife happened to be sitting with me in the lounge, watching the tennis with me. From then on, we were able to understand that the president was trying to get hold of me. "I believe at around 6 or 6:30 (pm) he got hold of me and explained to me that he was going to appoint me in this portfolio. I had to explain to him that in fact I am currently the director of the Mandela Institute at Wits in the law school, and that I was retiring in the institute at the end of this month, which is why he had to make the appointment effective from August," he said. The 66-year-old said once Ramaphosa informed him of the appointment, there was no hint of hesitation on taking up the new challenge. "It was a surprise of course, I didn't expect something like this. I have been an academic for, I think, 15 years or so, after serving about 15 years in the Gauteng government. Before that, from a very young age, I gave my all really to the priority which was always political change in the country. "To be appointed in this portfolio is a great honour for me. I am very appreciative that the president has expressed some confidence in my ability. I do feel humbled, slightly daunted, but I am going to tackle the challenge with all my energy. Who is Firoz Cachalia But who is Cachalia, the incoming Acting Police Minister? Cachalia, is a former anti-apartheid activist, lawyer, academic and long-time public servant. He is currently a professor at the Wits School of Law and chairs the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, a body tasked with helping the state prevent the kind of systemic graft exposed during the Zondo Commission. Born in Benoni in 1958, Cachalia was active in anti-apartheid student politics in the late 1970s and 1980s. He was repeatedly detained and banned by the apartheid state and later joined the United Democratic Front. He represented the Transvaal Indian Congress during the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) and contributed to early drafts of the country's constitutional principles. He holds multiple qualifications from Wits University, including a BA, LLB and a Higher Diploma in Company Law, and earned an LLM with distinction from the University of Michigan. Cachalia joined the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 1994 as a member of the ANC and served in various leadership roles, including Speaker of the legislature from 1999 to 2004. After the 2004 national elections, then-premier Mbhazima Shilowa appointed him MEC for Community Safety. He served as MEC for Community Safety until 2009, during a period of major crime-fighting reforms in Gauteng, and briefly held the Economic Development portfolio before leaving government in 2010. IOL News
