The body of missing toddler Orderick Lucas has been found in a drain, a few metres from his ouma’s house in Palm Park, Eerste River.
Five children who were playing in Witterbol Street discovered the 20-month-old’s body after they lifted the drain cover to retrieve their ball.
On Tuesday night, his grandmother Cornelia Scheepers, 50, blamed her drug addict daughter’s tikkop friends for Orderick’s death.
As mother Davideen Lucas broke down at the scene, Cornelia told Daily Voice: “My child swore it was not her who killed Orderick, I believe her. It’s her drug friends she operates with. They did this.”
Orderick went missing on Sunday, 24 March, but was only reported missing by his mother four days later.
Davideen told police she had left the child in the care of her friend, Mervin Volkwyn after she was assaulted the day of his disappearance.
Community members had apparently attacked the mother after she allegedly stole a cellphone.
Davideen Lucas broke down at the scene. Photo: Saafia February/Daily Voice
Davideen said she went to the hospital on Monday and when she returned, Mervin insisted that he had given Orderick back to her.
On Saturday, cops arrested the mom and ouma on charges of contravention of a court order, child abandonment and child neglect.
However, the charges against them were provisionally withdrawn in the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court.
On Monday night, cops arrested Mervin and another man on charges of kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
People in the street after the body was found
The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Eric Ntabazalila confirmed: “(Mervin Volkwyn) is charged with kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
“There were two men arrested but charges were withdrawn against one of them as he couldn’t be linked to the crime.”
The case was postponed to 9 April.
Cornelia told the Daily Voice that officers at the scene confirmed that the body found in the stormwater drain was her grandson’s.
However, on Tuesday night, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut would only confirm that the body of a child was found and that a case of murder has been registered.
Orderick and his twin siblings were removed from their mother after he sustained a broken arm, burn wounds and bite marks whilst in her care.
They were placed in their ouma’s care.
The five-year-old twins have since been removed from the house.