People’s Movement for Change’s Outcry in regard to justice for Jayden-Lee Meek

We mourn the tragic and brutal death of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek from Fleurhof, Johannesburg, whose body was discovered on 14 May 2025. Tortured and allegedly murdered by his own mother, Jayden-Lee’s death is not an isolated tragedy.

It is a reflection of our collective failure. We cannot, and will not, continue to fail our children. This is not just the responsibility of
SAPS. It is the responsibility of every adult in that child’s life:
Family
School
Neighbours
Police
Social Services
You
Me
All of us.

There were bruises before that dreadful day. There were screams before that cold
morning.

There was a sadness behind his smile that we all missed. As the People’s Movement for Change, we are calling for:
Mandatory, timely reporting to the Department of Social Development
Reference numbers and case tracking for all reported abuse.
Immediate escalation to the MEC or Minister when systems fail.
A national campaign to restore intersectoral collaboration and community vigilance in child protection.

Let us rally behind the green ribbon, the universal symbol of child protection. Jayden-Lee should have been playing football. He should have been chasing dream, not dying in silence.

Let 14 May 2025 be a date this nation never forgets. Let his death not be in vain. Let it be our collective call to action.

“Let us reimagine our society, let us reimagine a culture where children can be just that, children, let us reimagine our political landscape, let us reimagine South Africa” – Marius Fransman, former Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (SA), President of People’s Movement for Change

Tarryn-Lee Bell
National Head of Social Cluster
People’s Movement for Change

For media Inquiries contact:
Grant Harmse
National Head of Communications
People’s Movement for Change
0659784075
communications@pmc.org.za