Man (27) remanded in custody for murder of Bela-Bela toddler
Three-year-old Melania Ndacha Ruben was murdered and her body dumped in a stream.
LIMPOPO – A 27-year-old man, arrested for the murder of three-year-old Melania Ndacha Ruben, will remain in custody until December, says Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
The accused appeared briefly in the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court today (Wednesday, 25 November) and was remanded in custody until 7 December when he will re-appear for formal bail application.
Ruben’s body was found dumped in a stream on Tuesday, 17 November and at the time the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba ordered a 72-hour activation plan towards the apprehension of the person responsible. The suspect was arrested on Monday, 23 November.
Outside the court, residents called for the court not to grant bail to the accused. They held placards with the words “No Mercy, NO Bail.”
24 November
LIMPOPO – The police, through the help of the community of Vingerkraal village, have managed to arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the murder of three-year-old Melania Ndacha Ruben.
The child’s body was found dumped in a stream on Tuesday, 17 November and at the time the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba ordered a 72-hour activation plan towards the apprehension of the person responsible. The suspect was arrested on Monday, 23 November.
According to a statement issued by Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe the accused was arrested at around 13:30, after he was found hiding at a local farm near Vingerkraal. “It is alleged the owner of the farm reportedly informed the local community, who then reacted and caught the suspect and took him to nearby bushes and assaulted him.The police were then notified and with the backup of the Modimolle Public Order Police (POPS) Unit, they rescued the man from the angry mob and arrested him.”
Ruben was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon. “It is alleged that earlier in the day, the child’s mother had left her daughter with a neighbour, however when she returned at around 14:00, the child was nowhere to be found. The police were informed and a joint search operation was activated until her body was found at around 20:00 where it had been dumped in a stream in the area.”
She had sustained various open wounds and Ruben was certified dead by emergency medical services.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Bela-Bela Magistrate Court soon on a charge of murder. Police investigations into this matter are still underway, Ngoepe concluded.
