TZANEEN – THE body of a nine-year-old girl who was missing was found buried in a shallow grave on Saturday.
Mokgadi Ria Letsoalo from Medingen village outside Ga-Kgapane was reported missing at the Bolobedu police station two weeks ago.
The girl’s mother, Tshepo Letsoalo (39), had gone to her brother’s funeral in Mamakata village, about 15 km away from from her home.
When she arrived home she found that her daughter was missing. Her son was still there and unharmed.
The door of the house was broken and some of her valuables was missing.
Tzaneen cluster police spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said the baby was abducted while the two children lay sleeping.
Ngoepe said the police received a tip-off that the suspect was fleeing to Johannesburg with the child. The police arrested the suspect between Modjadjiskloof and Polokwane, Ngoepe said.
“We spoke English, Afrikaans and Khelobedu with him and he ultimately confessed having kidnapped and killing the little girl.
“He later took us to the place where he had buried her. Her decomposed body was recovered and he was arrested,” Ngoepe said.
Ngoepe said the girl’s body was buried near the site of a house that was being built and was already in a state of decomposition.
Mohale David Maenetja (24) was charged with housebreaking, kidnapping and murder and appeared before the Bolobedu magistrate’s court on Monday where he was remanded in custody until his next appearance on Monday, March 23 during which he would make an application for bail.
According to the distraught mother, Maenetja had come to her house looking for work two days before the incident.
“He said he was looking for a job and I told him I had none. The following day he came again to my house and said he had information that some of my neighbours were baying for my blood.
“He said he was a soothsayer and he wanted to become my ears and eyes in the village.
“I thought he was a good man. On the day of the incident, I received a call from an anonymous person who asked me about the safety of my children now that I was away to attend my brother’s funeral. I asked for his name but he hung up.
“I then left the funeral and went home to find my daughter missing,” she said between heartrending sobs.
Village chief, Joel Kgapane said he was still baffled by the incident. Kgapane said if he had his way, he would arrest the suspect and let him be killed by the residents.
“I am still in talks with my subjects. Our aim is to make sure that he does not set foot in our village again if he happens to be granted bail,” he said.
