By Nothando Makhubela
Nomvuyiselo Jana, a 32-year-old mother whose five-year-old son was first reported missing and then discovered dead, has been left to pick up the pieces.
The toddler, Shaydin Padda, also known as Bokkie, was reported missing on Monday 21 November after his father Shaun Padda (33) picked him up from school on the previous Friday.
Jana said Bokkie was with his father for the weekend and her concern grew when he did not bring Bokkie back as they had arranged on Sunday 20 November.
“I last saw my boy on Friday morning when I left him at school. His father took him after school and they went to his place for a weekend as usual – he always took him,” she told Scrolla.Africa.
Shaun’s body was found hanging on a tree at a school’s hockey field in Witbank on Tuesday morning, 22 November, after he had committed suicide.
Bokkie’s lifeless body was discovered on Wednesday 23 November, dumped in an open field at Van De Venter Street close to King George Park in the Witbank central business district, a few kilometres from where his father’s body was found.
“I started to panic when I heard that my child did not go to school on Monday. I went to Shaun’s place but did not find him. We were co-parenting very well; we shared two children and we had been living together for 11 years. We only broke up last year,” Jana explained.
Bokkie’s mother, who couldn’t hold her tears, said she had expected to receive the news of her son’s death.
“I knew Bokkie was dead, but I kept on hoping, praying and searching for my boy. But deep inside I already expected the worst. I suspect that Shaun first killed Bokkie and then later killed himself.
“I am in deep pain. I am still waiting for the post-mortem results for full clarification and to hear whether my son was poisoned or not. No parts of his body are missing. My son was very sweet and had a bubbly character,” she added.
Scrolla.Africa made an attempt to get a comment from Shaun’s family, but they refused and also requested privacy.
Picture above: The deceased 5-year-old toddler, Shaydin Padda “Bokkie”
Image source: Supplied
