Everson Luhanga
The painstaking, two-month long search for Zama Maphisa has ended in tragedy, after the young mother was found dead on Saturday leaving behind her three-month-old baby.
For over two months, Zama’s family said they waited with hope for her safe return.
In September, Zama was taken by her boyfriend, Lefadi Chego, on an outing to Mpumalanga from their home in Alexandra for a breakfast, so they could sort out the bumps in their relationship. But she never returned home.
On Saturday, the long search ended when Zama’s remains were found at a game reserve near Dennilton in Mpumalanga.
Zama’s sister Tracey Sithole told Scrolla.Africa that Chego, who has been charged with kidnapping and murder, took the police to the spot where he had dumped her after stabbing her to death.
On arrival in Mpumalanga, Chego showed officers Zama’s remains. They found her shoes, clothes and the weave she was wearing when she was last seen.
“My cousin who has been looking after Zama’s three children including the toddler has been depressed which has even resulted in her losing her job,” said Tracy.
On Wednesday 20 October, Chego was arrested after one of Scrolla.Africa’s readers saw the story of Zama’s disappearance. They saw the chilling video of the young mother’s last happy moments before the fateful breakfast.
After being taken into custody, Chego attempted to commit suicide by drinking poison before officers could question him.
Last Sunday, Zama’s mother, Doreen Maphisa arrived from KwaZulu-Natal to await her daughter’s return to her home in Johannesburg. She expected to see her daughter walking through her front door again. Instead, two officers arrived to confirm the tragic news that her daughter’s lifeless body had been found.
Tracey said Chego admitted to the police that he stabbed his girlfriend to death before dumping her in the bushes.
“Now, the family is waiting for the DNA results, as is police procedure, for us to take my sister to her final resting place.”
The suspect’s sister Jeminah Mokoana told Scrolla.Africa in October that police and the law must not be lenient toward her brother.
Jeminah said that her brother had many girlfriends, as well as a wife at home.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that police have found the remains of a woman in Mpumalanga.
He said Zama’s boyfriend who was arrested in connection to her disappearance will appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Thursday facing murder charges.
