News24 | WATCH | Tiffany Meek in the dock for her 11-year-old son’s murder

Tiffany Nicole Meek appears in court for the murder of her 11-year-old son, Jayden-Lee Meek.

• The mother of slain 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
• Tiffany Nicole Meek is charged with his murder, as well as defeating the ends of justice, crimen injuria, and attempting to obstruct the administration of justice.
• According to the charge sheet, blood was found on Jayden-Lee’s bed, his school clothing and his bag.

The 31-year-old mother of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court in connection with her son’s murder on Monday.

Tiffany Nicole Meek is charged with his murder, defeating the ends of justice, crimen injuria, and attempting to obstruct the administration of justice.

As she emerged from the holding cells, community members were overcome with emotion.

“Take off your mask,” one shouted, before another added: “Another Kelly,” in apparent reference to the 2024 kidnapping of then-6-year-old Joshlin Smith.

“You evil thing, you deceived us,” someone else yelled out.

Meek sat quietly in the dock. A black beanie and mask partially obscured her face.

The court gallery was packed to capacity, with Deputy Police Minister Shela Paulina “Polly” Boshielo and deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili also in attendance.

Jayden-Lee disappeared on 13 May after returning from school. His body was discovered the following day on the staircase at Swazi’s Complex in Fleurhof, Gauteng.

Residents demanded justice and marched to the Florida police station, calling for a swift investigation.

According to the charge sheet, Jayden-Lee was last seen on the morning of 13 May when he used scholar transport to travel to and from school – a routine arrangement organised and paid for by his mother.

“He was collected at the complex gate in the morning and delivered at the complex gate in the afternoon,” the charge sheet read.

However, Meek reported Jayden-Lee missing at the Florida police station that evening, claiming he had not returned home as expected.

On 14 May, a security guard found the boy’s body in a passage just a few metres from his home.

READ | Relative arrested for Jayden-Lee Meek’s murder

Emergency services officials rushed the boy to the Discoverers Community Health Centre in Roodepoort, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Upon a search at the accused’s residence on 14 May, the child’s bed had blood on it. The deceased’s school clothing and bag were found in the accused’s house or unit, with one of the school books having blood.

“Forensic analysis confirmed that the blood was of the deceased, and various other evidence confirmed that the deceased was harmed in the house,” the charge sheet read.

It is the State’s case that Meek bludgeoned Jayden-Lee over his head and that he died of a blunt-force head injury.

The State further alleges that Meek reported her son missing to prevent her premises from being searched.

“As a result of the actions of the accused, other persons were suspected, and other persons’ premises were searched, and thus the accused did defeat or obstruct the administration of justice.”

Meek has also been accused of blaming the scholar transport driver, Ndonga Khumalo, for her son’s disappearance. “

“The accused did unlawfully and intentionally injure and insult and impair the dignity of Mr Ndonga Khumalo by accusing him of causing the child’s disappearance or not having returned the child [and] being the last person that was with the child and causing Mr Khumalo to be considered a suspect and having his house searched by the police, looking for the deceased,” the charge sheet read.

According to the document, the accused unlawfully and with intent to defeat or obstruct the course of justice put Jayden-Lee’s body in the passage outside her unit.

“[This was] to lead to the conclusion that the deceased was harmed somewhere else and whoever harmed him placed him in the passage between units where he was discovered by a security guard, which act attempted to defeat or obstruct the administration of justice.”

Outside the court on Monday, a large crowd of community members gathered to show their support for Jayden-Lee.

They sang protest songs and held placards that read: “No Mercy,” and “Justice for Jayden, No Bail.”

“Stop blaming the police; we, as a society, have failed this child,” another read.

A significant police presence, including officers from the West Rand Public Order Policing Unit, was also observed outside the court.

The case was postponed to Friday after Meek’s private attorney failed to appear in court.