THERE are fears that a serial killer is operating in KwaNzimakwe near Port Edward.
Recently, two girls, aged eight and nine, were abducted.
Nqobile Mzelemu (8) was taken from outside a family member’s home in Nkulu Ward, in KwaNzimakwe in January this year.
Police spokesman Captain Gerald Mfeka said that despite an extensive search by family, friends and police, no sign of Nqobile was found.
However, in July, the her decomposed remains were found in a plantation a few kilometres from where she had last been seen.
Nqobile’s mother identified her daughter by the clothing she had worn – jeans and a jacket.
The child’s hands had been bound, there was a string around her neck, and her skull was cracked.
“At this stage the matter is being investigated and we are awaiting results of DNA testing,” said Capt Mfeka.
In February this year, Sanelisiwe Mtolo, a pupil at Entabeni Primary was reported missing. She is thought to have been abducted while on her way to buy airtime. The special needs child lived in Woza Ward.
In the seven months since her disappearance, there has been no clue as to her whereabouts.
This week Sanelisiwe’s aunt, Thembeni Mtolo, said the family still hoped the little girl would be found.
“Sanelisiwe’s mother died in 2010 and I have been her guardian ever since. This is not the first such incident to occur in KwaNzimakwe. There have been reports of children going missing, and not all of them have been found ,” she said.
The community believes that the police are not doing enough to track Nqobile’s killer and Sanelisiwe’s kidnapper.
Some fear more children will go missing and worry that the police are not taking this seriously enough.
The Mzelemu family has resorted to consulting sangomas in the hope of finding out who killed Nqobile.
