Mother of Jayden-Lee Meek Confronted with Damning Testimony

The Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court was once again the scene of heart-wrenching developments as Tiffany Meek, the mother of slain 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, appeared for the continuation of her bail application. The case has gripped the Fleurhof community and beyond, not only for its deeply tragic nature but also due to the disturbing allegations brought against the accused.

Meek, who resides in Fleurhof, stands charged with the murder of her son, along with counts of crimen injuria and attempting to defeat or obstruct the administration of justice. Her case has attracted intense public scrutiny, and the unfolding courtroom testimonies continue to raise urgent questions about what truly happened on the day of Jayden-Lee’s disappearance.

Earlier in the bail hearing, Meek informed the court that she could afford bail set at R5,000 and proposed an alternative residential address in Meadowlands, KwaZulu-Natal, should she be released.

During proceedings, state prosecutor Olga Mapokgole called investigating officer Sergeant Linda Duma to the witness box. Duma testified that Meek had no prior convictions.

The court was told that Jayden-Lee had been reported missing to the police at 7:30pm on 13 May 2025. According to timelines, the young boy was expected home from school by 3:30pm that day.

Sergeant Duma recounted Meek’s version of events to police. She stated she had been working from home on the day in question and, upon realising that Jayden-Lee had not returned, asked her mother to phone the scholar transport provider, as she reportedly did not have airtime herself.

Following her statement, police accompanied Meek to the home of the transport driver to verify the child’s whereabouts. The driver confirmed that he had dropped Jayden-Lee off. Police also searched the driver’s premises but uncovered no leads.

The investigation next took them to the Swazi Place Complex, where the family lived. Officers, together with Meek and family members, approached security personnel to inquire about any sightings. One security guard referred them to his colleague who had worked the earlier shift and had clocked out by 6:00pm.

“The security guard was asked if he saw the child and he said yes. It was during this time the applicant (Meek) interrupted him, stating he was not telling the truth. The security guard insisted he saw him as he was the one who opened for him with the remote control,”

the court heard.

Efforts were also made to question a schoolmate of Jayden-Lee, who was dropped off after him. The boy reportedly remembered that Jayden-Lee had indeed disembarked the bus, noting he had to step outside to open the door for him. The driver allegedly waited until the child had entered the complex before leaving.

Despite multiple searches conducted in and around the complex as well as on surrounding streets in Fleurhof, authorities failed to locate the boy that night. According to police, the search was suspended near midnight with assurances that officers would resume efforts the following morning.

The most critical revelations of the day emerged as Sergeant Duma read aloud a statement from a nightshift security guard, directly contradicting Meek’s claim that she had spent the night at her mother’s house in Florida. This contradiction casts doubt over her version of events and has become a focal point of the prosecution’s case.

“She (Meek) returned home. She entered the gate, and she was alone. She told me she is going to take a bath. Change her clothes and go back to the police station. I asked her before she went to the police station if she wants to assist with searching vehicles parked in the complex. She agreed and went to her flat. I searched the cars.

As I was searching at about 5.30am, the mother of the missing child told me she could not help with searches as she was heading to the police station. I opened the gate for her and she walked away and disappeared in the dark,”

the security guard stated.

As his testimony was read out, Meek was observed sitting in the dock, shaking her head in apparent disbelief or protest.

Just moments later, the court heard how the same security guard was informed by a resident that a child’s body had been discovered on the first floor of the building, near the stairwell.

“The security guard rushed to the area. When he got there, he was naked, only wearing underwear. He was found just behind the pillar. He said when he looked at the child, his eyes were not moving. The child felt cold. A resident brought a blanket and covered the child. They felt for a pulse but there was no pulse. There were no signs of life,”

the court was told.

It was confirmed that Jayden-Lee’s lifeless body had been located only eight to ten metres from the unit where he lived. The discovery time and exact location prompted more questions than answers, particularly after another resident came forward.

According to police, a resident who left the complex daily at 5:30am stated she did not see any body near the stairs at the time of her departure, implying the boy’s body may have been moved or placed there shortly before it was found.

Amid the flood of testimonies and contradicting statements, the court is faced with the task of piecing together an increasingly complex picture of what transpired that tragic night. With public outrage mounting and community members demanding justice for Jayden-Lee, the coming days in court may prove decisive.

As the bail hearing continues, scrutiny over Meek’s credibility intensifies, while the memory of an 11-year-old boy — whose life was cut tragically short — looms over every statement and every piece of evidence.

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