VEREENIGING. – The community of Vereeniging has shown that the saying: “Working together, we can”, is possible, and can be practiced and achieved.
This is after they helped police search for a missing child, who was, unfortunately, discovered dead in Vereeniging on Tuesday. A 28-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with murder after the discovery of a 1-year-old child at an open veld near the Old Hospital (commonly known as 21) in Vereeniging on Tuesday.
It is said that the suspect (a friend of the mother) was left with three kids by their mother as per their agreement that she would take care of the kids aged 4,3 and 1 while the mother went to work. However, after a week when the mother returned, she found her friend with only two kids.
When she enquired about the 1-year-old, the friend apparently sent her from pillar to post about the baby’s whereabouts. She then started doing her own investigations and with the community’s help, they began looking for the child. Preliminary investigation revealed that the woman dumped the child in an open veld not far from where she resides, covered with plastic.
Paramedics certified the boy dead.
Police Spokesperson, Sergeant Gertrude Makhale said that at about 16:30 on Tuesday, the Vereeniging police were called by the angry community members who had made a citizen’s arrest of the 28-years-old suspect and the woman was placed under arrest with no injuries.
“Acting District Commissioner Brigadier Nkwashu has condemned the incident. Brigadier Nkwashu sensitized mothers/parents to protect their children and ensure at all times where they leave their kids, is safe all the time. As it’s our duty as parents to protect the kids and provide shelter for them,” Makhale said.
The police have opened a case of murder and the suspect will appear before the court soon.
Meanwhile, messages of condolences poured in on social media from the upset Vereeniging community members and some of them read as follows:
- Mahlomola a tshabehang, a Moya wa lesea o phomole ka kgotso ke swabile ke nyahame empa ka matla a thapelo hotla loka ho boima hleng.
- Siyabulela xa efumanekile umntwana, umoya wakhe uphumle ngxolo. Ku MaMa no sapho. I Nkosi ibophe Elo nxeba linzulu, balile, U Thixo abosule inyembezi.
- Ga le lelapa la lekgabunyane leo moya wa lona ontshitsweng nameng ke letsoho leo ‘re letshepileng hore le tla mosireletsa Modimo a lo batlamella leqeba le utlwileng bohloko. Haele mmolai yena toka e phethahale ka tshwanelo. 😭😭😭😭😭
