LIMPOPO – The Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has expressed her shock following the murder of a five-year-old boy allegedly at the hands of his 27-year-old cousin at Nyakelang in the Makhushane village near Namakgale on Monday afternoon (June 6).
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the child’s mother returned from work and didn’t find her two children at home but assumed they were playing at the neighbour’s house as usual.
You might also want to read: Community attacks man for raping 4-year-old girl
“The woman only found her eldest child and began searching for her five-year-old son with the assistance of the community. The distraught mother then decided to check in her nephew’s room a few houses away and discovered her son’s lifeless body next to a basin,” he said.
Police found the child’s body with multiple stab wounds and a case of murder was opened. “A knife and sharp object, believed to be the weapons used during the murder were found next to the body. The suspect had already fled the scene,” Mojapelo said.
Police were later informed that the suspect was traced and attacked by the community. “Police found the suspect severely assaulted and tied up with a rope. He was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of this morning (June 7),” Mojapelo said.
The child has been identified as Kgohlelelo Selowa and the suspect, Kagiso Moyane.
Hadebe has warned communities to refrain from taking the law into their own hands following Moyane’s murder.
The police have opened cases of murder and no arrests have been made for the mob justice incident. Investigations continue.
“Anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of the suspects should contact Lieutenant Colonel Lilian Mahlathi on 082 469 1240, the crime stop number 08600 10111 or at the nearest police station,” Mojapelo said.
