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The body of five-year-old Onkarabetse Leeuw has been found on the outskirts of Glen Location near Bloemfontein in the Free State, bringing another chilling end to what began as a desperate search for a missing child.
Police confirmed that the young boy’s body was discovered on Wednesday afternoon, hidden beneath a cardboard box in thick vegetation just beyond the settlement. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the small community still mourning the death of another child, three-year-old Katleho Leeuw, only weeks earlier.
According to police spokesperson Thabo Covane, Onkarabetse was reported missing by his mother on Saturday, 8 November 2025, sparking a community-wide search that ended in tragedy.
“The police search team found the lifeless body of 5-year-old boy Onkarabetse Leeuw, who was reported missing by his mother,” Covane said. “The body was found covered under a carton box in thick vegetation on the southern outskirts of Glen Location at about 16:20.”
In a shocking twist, police have arrested a 29-year-old woman, believed to be the child’s aunt, in connection with the boy’s kidnapping and murder. The suspect is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.
The motive behind the killing remains unclear, but investigators say early evidence points to a domestic dispute that may have spiralled out of control. Police have not ruled out the possibility of ritual motives, given the disturbing pattern of child killings that has gripped parts of the province in recent months.
The tragedy has plunged the Glen community into grief and disbelief. Residents who had spent days helping the family search for Onkarabetse gathered near the scene as police cordoned off the area. Some cried openly, while others stood in stunned silence as forensic teams combed through the nearby bushes for evidence.
One local resident, who asked not to be named, said she saw the aunt shortly after the child disappeared but never suspected her.
“She looked worried like everyone else,” the woman said quietly. “We were all praying he’d be found alive. I still can’t believe she could do this.”
The discovery of Onkarabetse’s body comes barely two weeks after another child from the same extended family, three-year-old Katleho Leeuw, was found murdered under similar circumstances. Katleho’s body was discovered in bushes near Glen on 25 October, two days after she was reported missing. Her uncle was arrested and charged with her murder.
The two deaths — both allegedly involving close relatives — have left residents reeling, sparking anger and confusion within the tight-knit community. Many have demanded answers and harsher punishments for those responsible.
Free State MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, expressed deep sorrow and outrage following the latest discovery.
“It is unthinkable that such cruelty can be committed against innocent children — and by people they trusted the most,” said Mbalula. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Leeuw family. The police are working tirelessly to determine the circumstances surrounding these horrific crimes and the involvement of family members.”
Mbalula confirmed that psychological support has been offered to the grieving family and local residents, describing the twin tragedies as “a devastating blow to an already heartbroken community.”
The MEC’s office has since ordered an urgent review of child protection and safety mechanisms in the province, urging parents and guardians to remain vigilant, especially within households where children may be left in the care of relatives.
“We are deeply concerned by the rise in family-related murders,” Mbalula added. “These are not strangers preying on our children — they are people within the same homes. We must confront this sickness as a society.”
As investigations continue, police sources say the aunt has remained largely uncooperative during questioning. She was taken into custody shortly after the discovery and is being held at Glen Police Station pending further interrogation.
Neighbours say tensions within the Leeuw family had been growing in recent months, though few could have imagined such a grim outcome. Some community members described the suspect as “quiet but easily angered,” while others expressed disbelief that she could be capable of murder.
The deaths of Onkarabetse and Katleho have reignited fears about the safety of children in rural communities, where social services are stretched and police often rely heavily on community assistance to track missing minors.
In the past year, the Free State has recorded several cases of child abductions and murders, many linked to family disputes, domestic violence, or ritual-related motives. Authorities say the trend reflects deeper social problems — from poverty and unemployment to the breakdown of family structures.
Police have appealed to the public for calm as they finalise forensic examinations and await post-mortem results that may provide more clarity on the cause of death.
For now, the small town of Glen remains under a heavy cloud of mourning. At the Leeuw family home, candles flicker outside the door, surrounded by children’s toys and handwritten notes of sympathy from neighbours.
One message reads simply: “Sleep well, little angels.”
For residents of Glen, the words are both a farewell and a desperate plea — that the violence claiming their youngest and most innocent finally comes to an end.
But as night falls over the Free State countryside, one haunting truth remains: two children from the same family are gone, both betrayed by those who should have protected them most.
