Missing Kwambonambi girl found raped and killed
The child's body had been dumped in thick bushes
THE naked body of a nine-year-old girl, who was reported missing at KwaMbonambi SAPS on Sunday, was found dumped in thick bushes on Tuesday.
The deceased, Khethokuhle Buthelezi of Nzalabantu area in KwaMbonambi was reportedly raped before being strangled to death. Her clothes were found next to her body.
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A family neighbour, Sizakele Xulu, said that Khethokuhle was lured out of her residence by a suspect, who offered to buy her chips and sweets at a local tuck shop.
‘She was playing with other children on Sunday, when she went missing. When her mother discovered that she was not around she started panicking.
‘ We all went out to look for her, but we could not find her anywhere. At the tuck shop, we were told that she arrived with a suspect, and they only bought chips and left.
‘When we confronted the suspect, he said that after buying some chips for her, he sent her back home and denied any knowledge of her whereabouts. We then decided to report the matter to the police,’ she said.
The deceased’s mother, Doritha Cele, was too traumatised to comment on the matter.
King Cetshwayo Cluster Police Spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, said a case of child-stealing was registered at KwaMbonambi SAPS on Sunday.
‘On the same day, police took in a 32-year-old suspect for questioning. On Tuesday, the suspect led police to Daladi bushes, where Khethokuhle’s body was found. We suspect that she was strangled to death.
‘An additional case of murder was registered. At this stage police are waiting for postmortem results, which will give a clear indication whether or not she was raped,’ Mdlalose said.
A suspect appeared at Ngwelezana Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was remanded in police custody for further investigation. He is expected to reappear tomorrow (Friday) for a formal bail application.
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