The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma condemns the senseless and barbaric incident in which a 12 year old girl was brutally murdered at Mmamethlake, near Siyabuswa late last year.
According to information at police disposal, the girl’s body was found by a passer by dumped in the bushes on Monday, 11 December 2017 and subsequent to that, two men, Job Ratsela aged 45 and Calvin Maluleka aged 54 were arrested in connection therewith.
The duo has already appeared at the Mbibane Magistrate’s Court in Siyabuswa on Thursday, 11 January 2018.
She was reportedly last seen by her family around 23:30 on Saturday, 09 December 2017, only for her body to be discovered by the passer by who was searching for his livestock in the bushes. The police were informed and all role players summoned to the scene where paramedics declared her dead.
Her naked body with serious scars was found balanced on a tree. Upon scrutiny, it appears as if a small part of the tongue was missing. Police investigations led to the duo, hence the arrest and subsequent appearance in court.
The suspects were remanded in custody and will reappear at the same court on 23 January 2018, for a formal bail hearing. Her family said they had been planning to report her as a missing person on the very day that her body was discovered.
The police in Mpumalanga therefore remind community members that a person may be reported as a missing person as soon as there is reason to believe that they may be missing. There is no more a need for people to wait 24 hours whatsoever before reporting, as that practice jeopardizes chances of finding or rescuing the victim from whatever danger they may be facing.
“Such actions alleged to have been committed by the duo are gruesome in nature and are condemned in the strongest possible terms. I find it very strange that two adult males can commit such an act against such a young woman, needless to mention that they are also alleged to have dumped her naked body in the bushes. Though I am elated over the arrest of the perpetrators, the precious life of the girl has been wasted”, said the Provincial Commissioner.
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