The community of Tsakane in Gauteng was left horrified after the shocking death of 16-year-old Neo Mahlangu, whose body was discovered buried in the backyard of his aunt’s home following weeks of deception and investigation.
Neo, a teenage boy from Daveyton, had reportedly been visiting his aunt, Andile Aalivirah Mthembu, at her home in Tsakane before he suddenly disappeared in March 2022. According to reports, concerns grew after the teenager could no longer be reached and his whereabouts remained unknown.
It is alleged that Neo was brutally beaten to death with a stick during an assault involving his aunt and her 14-year-old son. Authorities believe the young cousin also assisted in concealing the crime by helping bury the teenager’s body in the yard of the family home.
In an attempt to avoid suspicion, Mthembu allegedly reported Neo missing to the Tsakane police on or around 16 March 2022. The missing person report initially led police and community members to believe the teenager had disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
However, investigators later became suspicious after noticing unusual activities at the property on Masia Street. It is alleged that the aunt hired workers to dig a large hole in the backyard, claiming that the excavation was intended for the installation of a JoJo water tank. Despite the digging being completed, no tank was ever installed.
This reportedly raised alarm bells among investigators and community members, eventually leading police to search the property more thoroughly.
In early April 2022, members of the police Search and Rescue Unit, including Warrant Officer Naidoo and his team, conducted an excavation at the home. During the operation, Neo’s body was tragically discovered buried in the backyard.
The heartbreaking discovery sent shockwaves through Tsakane, Daveyton, and surrounding communities, with many residents expressing anger and disbelief over the allegations involving close family members.
Following the discovery, Andile Aalivirah Mthembu was arrested and charged with murder, defeating the ends of justice, and perjury. Her 14-year-old son was also implicated in the case due to his alleged involvement in both the assault and the burial of the body.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development also expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it as disturbing and heartbreaking. Community members called for justice for Neo and support for affected relatives.
Neo Mahlangu was later laid to rest in Benoni, where grieving family members, friends, and residents gathered to say their final goodbyes to the teenager whose life ended in such a tragic manner.
The case remains one of the most disturbing family-related crimes to have shaken the Gauteng community in recent years, highlighting concerns about violence within homes and the protection of vulnerable children.
About the Author
