LIMPOPO – Mopani Mayor, Nkakareng Rakgoale, and Greater Giyani Mayor, Sasavona Mathebula visited the family of the 10-year old Zanel on Friday. Zanel disappeared last Monday and was found murdered last Thursday, her body dumped at Ritavi River. According to the family’s spokesperson and the girl’s guardian at the time of her disappearance, Kenneth Masuluke,she had been sent to buy airtime around 18:00 on the Monday evening when she disappeared at Ngove village.
“At first we thought she might have lost the money intended to buy the airtime and decided to go to a friend’s house to muster the courage to come home and tell us she lost the money. However, when she didn’t come home the following day, we knew something had happened,” Masuluke explained.
Zanel was staying with her aunt at Ngove village during the time of her disappearance, while her mother lived in Homu-14C. According to Masuluke, Zanel’s mother asked if they could look after her daughter because of a new love interest she met after Zanel’s father died.
Zanel’s mother is unemployed and living with her pensioner father.
When the mayors arrived they were shocked by the destitute living conditions of the family. They managed to raise R1 700 to help the family with food and wanted to help the family make funeral arrangements for Zanel.
“Seeing how poor the family is, we decided to work together with the local municipality to ensure their loved one gets a decent funeral. We will give them everything they need to help arrange the funeral and we’ve already appointed a government liaison to help the family with whatever they may need,” Mathebula said. No one has been arrested in connection with the case and investigations are still ongoing.
Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said: “We’re still busy with the investigation and we will not rest until they are brought to book for their crimes”.
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Child (10) murdered: police hunt for suspect/s
