Latest news with #RoodepoortMagistrate
The Citizen
23-07-2025
- The Citizen
Videos: Contradictions emerge in bail hearing of murdered Jayden-Lee's mother
Conflicting accounts of clothing and missing occurrence book (OB) entries came under scrutiny today during the bail application hearing of Tiffany Nicole Meek (31) in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court. According to the Roodepoort Record, Meek's defence attorney, Noven Naidoo, cross-examined state witness and investigating officer Sergeant Nceba Diko about the clothing Jayden-Lee Meek (11) was reportedly wearing on the day he went missing. Naidoo highlighted that the teacher, the day shift security guard at Swazi's Place, and Meek herself all gave differing statements about Jayden-Lee's clothing. 'My client informed me she helped him get dressed that morning. He was wearing grey long pants, a white shirt, a tie, and black takkies,' Naidoo told the court. A statement from Jayden-Lee's teacher at Royal College indicated he was wearing a red school tracksuit with a school badge and carrying his school bag. The day shift security guard reported seeing Jayden in a red school jacket with a badge and black shorts. Diko said he could not confirm what the child was wearing, as the descriptions were provided by individuals who had seen Jayden-Lee that day. OB entries from Swazi's Place were also submitted to court. The entries showed that the first report of Jayden's disappearance was made to the night shift security guard at 20:30 by unknown individuals. Meek reported the matter at 21:00, accompanied by police. Naidoo stated: 'The accused will say she spoke to the day shift security guard and that an entry was made in the OB. She gave him her phone number, told him she was going to the shop, and instructed him to call if Jayden returned.' Diko responded: 'There is no record of this in the OB.' Naidoo also questioned the officer about an alleged missing page from the OB, claiming that on May 14 – the day Jayden-Lee's body was discovered – Meek and her family noticed the page was missing when they attempted to photograph the book. Diko admitted he had not certified the OB copies submitted to court, citing workload as the reason for the oversight. The defence presented a Bolt receipt showing Meek travelled to Swazi's Place at 05:12, not 04:00 as stated by Diko. Naidoo said this detail had been deliberately omitted from Meek's affidavit to illustrate that she did not travel there at 04:00, as alleged. This timing further contradicted the OB entry provided by the security guard. Further questioning focused on the nationality of the security guards. Naidoo asked whether Diko had checked their immigration status. 'They are both Congolese nationals, and I did not check their status,' Diko said. When asked by the court about the relevance of this line of questioning, Naidoo argued that if the guards were arrested, they might not be available to testify. Before proceedings concluded, the investigating officer presented Jayden's school bag, which was found at Unit 13, where Meek resides. A schoolbook was then used to confirm that Jayden had attended school on May 13 and had written work for that day. The bail application is set to continue on Friday. Meek remains in custody. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-07-2025
- The Citizen
Bail hearing of Tiffany Nicole Meek continues tomorrow
Final evidence and cross-examination are expected to be heard tomorrow, July 23, in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court as the bail hearing of Tiffany Nicole Meek (31) continues. During today's proceedings, state witness and investigating officer Sergeant Nceba Diko, a detective at the Florida Police Station, took the stand again. He worked through Meek's affidavit to assess whether her version of events aligned with the findings of the investigation. Diko disputed claims in Meek's affidavit that sniffer dogs had been led into a security guard's room. • Also read: #JusticeforJayden: Court hears of blunt force trauma and timeline linking mother to crime 'Security never occupied any unit or flat at Swazi's Place, and I don't know which flat the affidavit is referring to,' he said. He also refuted Meek's timeline, stating that the school bag, red jacket, shoes and pillow were found on the day of the incident, not on May 16 as claimed in her statement. However, he confirmed that on May 16, a pair of underwear with no visible blood was observed for the first time by himself and the forensic photographer. A towel containing blood traces was also found in the bathtub, but it was not sent for forensic analysis. • Also read: Mother of Jayden-Lee Meek appears in court for bail hearing amid damning testimony Diko explained that the accused was not arrested immediately because investigations, including the post-mortem, took time to finalise. He further testified that releasing Meek on bail could pose a risk to her safety, the safety of the public, and public peace. He also expressed concern that she might evade trial or interfere with potential witnesses. 'There are still outstanding investigations to be completed. If the accused relocates to her father's home in Durban, I will have difficulty monitoring her in line with the court's conditions,' he said. • Also read: Mother accused of murdering son Jayden-Lee remains in custody as bail hearing is postponed 'Given the community's outcry and ongoing protests, I believe she is safer in custody. South Africans are concerned and seeking answers, and I urge the court to consider this.' Final evidence expected to be submitted includes a community petition handed to Florida police, DNA results, still photographs, and video footage. Until further notice, Meek remains in custody. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
14-07-2025
- IOL News
Cloned - Community demands justice for Jayden-Lee Meek at Roodepoort Magistrate's Court
Scores of community and children's rights activists have gathered outside the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court for the appearance of a close family member in the murder of Jayden Lee Meek. Image: Siyabonga Sithole THE community of Fleurhof, Johannesburg, and scores of children's right activists have called for justice to be served in the murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, who allegedly died at the hands of a close family member in May this year. Outside the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on yesterday, scores of concerned community members picketed ahead of the first court appearance of the relative. Thoko Khambule from Fleurhof stated that the community, which came out in their numbers to mourn the mysterious death of the learner, was shocked by the alleged involvement of a family member whose responsibility was to protect and nurture Jayden-Lee Meek. "We want justice to be served for Jayden-Lee Meek's death. If indeed, the mother is involved in the murder, we want her to answer to the community. We were there with her as she was mourning the death of her child, not knowing that she is somehow involved. We call on the justice system to do the right thing as we want answers from her," she said. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Joburg Speaker Margaret Arnolds arriving at the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Monday. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers City of Joburg speaker, Margaret Arnolds, speaking outside the court, stated: "As a survivor of rape and abuse, who has spoken openly about GBV, what we want to see today is justice. We want justice to be served regardless of who is involved. We cannot allow a situation where our children are not safe even in their homes." On Friday, Gauteng police confirmed that a 31-year-old close family member was arrested in connection with the murder and was due to appear before the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Monday. Jayden Lee Meek's mother, Tiffany Meek, appears in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Last month, 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. Gauteng police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said the 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 Magistrate's Court on (Monday) 14 July 2025 on a charge of murder,' said Nevhuhulwi. Gauteng police top brass attend the murder case of Jayden Lee Meek. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers 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. 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. This is a developing story.
IOL News
14-07-2025
- IOL News
Community demands justice for Jayden-Lee Meek at Roodepoort Magistrate's Court
Scores of community and children's rights activists have gathered outside the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court for the appearance of a close family member in the murder of Jayden Lee Meek. Image: Siyabonga Sithole The community of Fleurhof, Johannesburg, and scores of children's right activists have called for justice to be served in the murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, who allegedly died at the hands of a close family member in May this year. Outside the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Monday, scores of concerned community members picketed ahead of the first court appearance of the relative. Thoko Khambule from Fleurhof stated that the community, which came out in their numbers to mourn the mysterious death of the learner, is shocked by the alleged involvement of a family member whose responsibility was to protect and nurture Jayden-Lee Meek. "We want justice to be served for Jayden-Lee Meek's death. If indeed, the mother is involved in the murder, we want her to answer to the community. We were there with her as she was mourning the death of her child, not knowing that she is somehow involved. We call on the justice system to do the right thing as we want answers from her," she said. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Joburg Speaker Margaret Arnolds arriving at the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Monday. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers City of Joburg speaker, Margaret Arnolds, speaking outside the court, stated: "As a survivor of rape and abuse, who has spoken openly about GBV, what we want to see today is justice. We want justice to be served regardless of who is involved. We cannot allow a situation where our children are not safe even in their homes." On Friday, Gauteng police confirmed that a 31-year-old close family member was arrested in connection with the murder and was due to appear before the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Monday. Jayden Lee Meek's mother, Tiffany Meek, appears in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Last month, 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. Gauteng police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said the 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 Magistrate's Court on (Monday) 14 July 2025 on a charge of murder,' said Nevhuhulwi. Gauteng police top brass attend the murder case of Jayden Lee Meek. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers 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. 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. This is a developing story.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- The Citizen
Likhona Fose killer previously convicted for attempted murder
The matter has been postponed for sevens days to 18 June for a formal bail application. The 39-year-old man charged with the brutal murder and mutilation of 14-year-old Likhona Fose appeared briefly in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, where his bail application was postponed amid strong opposition from the state. Mduduzi Mnisi faces charges in connection with the death of the Grade 8 pupil from Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville, Johannesburg, whose mutilated body was discovered in an empty field on 1 June 2025. The teenager's family believes her murder was motivated by homophobia, as she identified as lesbian. WATCH: Likhona Fose murder case court proceedings Suspect in Likhona Fose's death has previous convictions During the brief court appearance, Mnisi's legal representative revealed that his client has previous convictions for attempted murder and robbery. The defence indicated that Mnisi intends to apply for bail and complained that he was not provided with a bed and a blanket when taken to the Krugersdorp Correctional Centre. The magistrate classified the case as a Schedule six offence under the Criminal Procedure Act, which covers serious crimes including murder and human trafficking. The matter has been postponed for seven days to 18 June for a formal bail application. State advocate Zanele Chauke confirmed that the prosecution will oppose bail. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson for the Gauteng division, Phindi Mjonondwana confirmed the postponement of the proceedings. 'It's to allow the state to conclude its investigation in respect of the bail application that the accused wants to bring before court. So it will include the profiling of the accused, checking whether or not he has any previous convictions, whether or not he has any pending cases against him,' said Mjonondwana, explaining the state's approach to the SABC. ALSO READ: Police rope in specialised team to probe murder of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose Investigation and arrest The arrest came after an intensive investigation by the police's Occult Unit. 'The police's Occult Unit has been working hard to find the perpetrators following the gruesome murder of 14-year-old Fose. One person was taken in for questioning on Monday, 9 June 2025. 'He was then linked to the murder and charged accordingly,' said Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo. ALSO READ: Suspect arrested in Likhona Fose murder Security measures and community response High police visibility surrounded the court proceedings, with authorities anticipating significant public interest in the case. Mjonondwana explained the security arrangements: 'Those are arrangements by the South African Police Service (Saps). Obviously, working closely with the court manager. 'But basically, it's just to ensure and promote the safety and security of people who will be attending this court case. They've obviously anticipated the large number of people attending.' Community cooperation critical Mjonondwana stressed the importance of community involvement in addressing such crimes. 'This battle needs us to work in unison with our communities. We need every hand on deck because this is a battle that we can only win if we work as a collective together with society, government departments working closely with society, because these crimes happen within our communities.' She expressed gratitude for community cooperation in this specific case: 'We really need to also extend our gratitude to those members of society who remain vigilant and who come forward, as it has in this case, where information was provided by a witness who is within the community.' The case will return to court on 18 June, where the state will present its opposition to bail while the defence seeks the suspect's release pending trial. READ NEXT: Family believes 14-year-old Likhona Fose was killed in suspected homophobic attack
