Family still reeling with shock after pupil's killing

The past week has been overwhelming for the family of Leticia Jansen, 14, who was found murdered in Germiston on Friday after she went missing on Wednesday.

Her grandmother, Lynette Jansen, 53, who raised Leticia after her mother passed away, said the burden was heavy for the family.

"This has been a difficult period for the family. Every time I close my eyes, I see Leticia's face. It seems like she is trying to reach out to me but I can't get what it is she wants.

"On Saturday it was her birthday, so I bought two cakes and we went to the place where her body was found. One cake fell down but there was no wind. Maybe she is calling out to me. I wish she can give us a clue as to who did this horrible thing to her."

Leticia, who was a grade 9 pupil at Graceland Education Centre, went missing after she was left behind by scholar transport. The family tried to open a case of missing person at the Germiston police station, but alleged they were turned away.

Leticia's half-naked body was discovered by her family dog on Friday in an open veld not far from home.

"We are still trying to come to terms with her death. We could not afford to give her the funeral she deserves. We were very lucky that EFF Ekurhuleni stepped in and arranged for her to get a decent funeral," Jansen said.

EFF chairperson in Ekurhuleni in ward 35, Seipati Mashiane, said they could not just sit and fold their arms. They had to do something to help the family.

"We have managed to get a few sponsors who will help the family with funeral arrangements.

"Avbob Funeral Services have also agreed to help with the coffin and securing a grave site for the family.

"We are worried about that open space [where Leticia was found]. The grass is long, which makes it a hiding place for criminals."

Vusi Dladla of Avbob confirmed they will help the family with the coffin and funeral services.

"Our branch in Germiston has already spoken to the family," Dladla said. 

Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi visited the school yesterday and said "it was clear that the school did not care about the lives of its pupils".

"The school was notified on Thursday about the missing [pupil] but failed to act. A child has not been in class for three days and the school was not aware and they didn't know she has died and I am the MEC and I had to tell them."

He also condemned the school for changing the bus schedule without informing parents. "You just say we were at assembly and told learners, parents won't believe learners.

"You had to tell parents for them to approve, then you implement. These are some silly cost-saving exercises, you want the bus to leave early so that you take learners to school and use the same bus that I have paid for the entire day to go and take adults somewhere. We are going to act," Lesufi said.

Police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said no one has been arrested as yet but a case of murder has been opened.