THE Mthiyane family of Makhambane Reserve in Mtubatuba is reeling in shock after their 14-year-old granddaughter was strangled to death, allegedly by her cousin.
Snehlanhla Mthiyane went missing from her home on Saturday afternoon after she had been sent by the suspect to buy cigarettes at a local tuck shop.
The deceased’s grandmother, Maria Mthiyane (71), said they went to the police to report her missing after she failed to return.
‘One of our neighbours spotted Snehlanhla with her cousin at the tuck shop. They left together.’
The teen’s body was later found in a nearby bush.
‘Indications are she was raped and strangled to death. We later discovered that the suspect took all his belongings and left without telling anyone. He is still at large,’ said Mthiyane.
uMkhanyakude Cluster Police spokesperson, Captain Jabulani Mdletshe, confirmed the incident, saying the body of the deceased was found with bruising on the neck.
‘We are waiting for the postmortem report to determine if she was raped or not. A case of murder is under investigation at KwaMsane SAPS and no arrest has been made yet,’ he said.
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