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What began as a desperate search for a missing child in Umlazi has ended in the worst possible way. The lifeless body of five-year-old Ntobeko Xaba was found wrapped in a blanket and dumped in a river beneath a bridge in the U section on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
Ntobeko had been snatched from his home in Q section the previous Friday, 22 August. His disappearance sent shockwaves through the community, and his family launched frantic searches, clinging to hope that he would be found alive.
The kidnapper, later identified as a 39-year-old woman who lived nearby, allegedly demanded R60,000 from Ntobeko’s mother for his safe return. She refused a bank deposit, insisting on payment through e-wallet instead. It was claimed her motive stemmed from a personal grievance dating back to 2020.
While Ntobeko’s relatives combed the area and tracked the suspect’s phone, the little boy remained missing. His grandmother, Thandekile Xaba, described the family’s torment. “He was playing outside, and then he was gone. We searched all night with no luck,” she said, her voice heavy with grief.
The breakthrough came on Wednesday, 27 August, when police arrested the suspect in Mzimkhulu after days on the run. At first, she tried to mislead investigators. But under questioning, she finally led them to the heartbreaking scene — the river where Ntobeko’s small body was discovered.
“We hoped to find him alive. It’s devastating that he’s gone,” Thandekile said, struggling to come to terms with the loss.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the grim discovery, as well as the suspect’s arrest. “Investigations led to the 39-year-old woman who had fled to Riesdale in Umzimkhulu. On Thursday, the boy’s body was found floating in a river in Umlazi’s Q section,” he stated.
The motive for the crime, involving kidnapping, extortion, and ultimately murder, remains under investigation.
Now, the devastated Umlazi community joins Ntobeko’s family in calling for justice — and for answers to why an innocent child’s life was cut short in such a cruel and senseless way.
🕊️ Rest in peace, little Ntobeko.
