TWO more people, a pastor (30) and a female sangoma (48), were arrested by the Mankweng police in connection with the recent murder of seven-year-old Phetolo Letsoalo.
Initially a 35-year-old man was apprehended as, according to Mankweng police spokesperson Const Matimba Maluleke, the boy was seen in the man’s company shortly the boy disappeared.
During a search for the boy some hours later, his body was found near the suspects home, which was also three houses away from the child’s grandpa-rents’ house where he was playing before his disappearance.
All four suspects remain in custody until their next court appearance, which is set to take place in the Mankweng magistrate’s court on January 7.
Express spoke to the boy’s mother, Leshoto Letsoalo, who said the sudden death of her child was heartbreaking, even more so as she knew the people suspected of murdering him and they lived in the same community as she did.
She said on the day of her son’s disappearance and subsequent murder, she realised it was getting dark and that her son had not come home.
She went to his grandparents’ house to collect him, only to find out that he was not there.
Letsoalo said that was when she knew something was very wrong and started asking people in the area if they had seen her son.
When there was still no trace of him, the matter was reported to the police station.
“I have lost my pride and joy. My son was very intelligent and he always respected his elders.
“He would have done whatever any adult told him to do.
“I collected his school report after his death. He would have been in gr. 3 next year,” Phetolo’s mother said.
She said she believed that justice would take its course.
Ward 27 councillor, Justice Mogale, appealed to residents to be patient and allow the police and court to deal with the matter until the case was led to successful completion and prosecution.
Phetholo was laid to rest in Ga-Dikgale village on Sunday.
