THE Pinetown Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit has worked tirelessly around the clock looking for a man who kidnapped and killed a young boy in KwaDabeka.
According to provincial police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, it is alleged that on Saturday, 28 November at around 5pm, 11-year-old Sphesihle Phewa was left at home alone by his mother in Lindela, KwaDabeka. When she returned home, she found that her son was missing and suspected that her ex-boyfriend had taken her son as they were not on good terms.
The mother immediately reported the matter to the KwaDabeka police station and the case was taken over by the Pinetown Family Violence, Child and Sexual Offences unit. The decomposed body of the boy was found on Tuesday, 8 December by a man collecting scrap metals at the dumping site in KwaDabeka and reported to the police. Search and Rescue members together with the investigating officer went to the dumping site and recovered the body.
“Unit members went to Greytown last night (Wednesday, 9 December) following information about his whereabouts. The 31-year-old suspect was found hiding in his girlfriend’s house and was arrested,” said Zwane.
Provincial commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lt Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni, condemned the barbaric attack on an innocent child.
“I commend good work by the unit, which made great effort in tracing the suspect to where he was hiding. We hope that with the evidence that is in our possession, we will be able to present it in court and make sure that the suspect is convicted of the crimes he committed,” said Ngobeni.
KwaDabeka SAPS communications officer, W/O Sibusiso Ngcobo, confirmed that the boy was stabbed to death.
“A case of murder was opened at KwaDabeka police station. The suspect appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court last week facing kidnapping and murder charges. He was remanded in police custody and will reappear in court on Monday, 21 December,” added Ngcobo.
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