A missing five-year-old girl, Mahlodi Selota, was found dead in an open field behind the Mayibuye shopping complex in Phomolong on Friday afternoon last week.
Mahlodi was reported missing on August 31, after she somehow slipped out of her home to buy chips at a spaza shop.
She went missing at around 7 pm and her body was discovered by a resident.
According to Mahlodi’s mother, Ms Albertina Selota, her daughter was asking for chips shortly before she went missing.
“I did not buy her anything from the shop because the next day was Monday and she had to carry some money for lunch at school. She then ran to her father, who was with his friends at a neighbour’s house. He gave her R1,50 to buy some chips from the spaza shop, which is in the same yard that we live in. From there, she never returned and was nowhere to be found,” said Ms Selota.
Family and residents searched the area for hours, together with police officers.
“My child loved writing a lot, even though she was not yet perfect. She also loved playing with other children and we used to call her “Sesi wa bana”, which means sister of children. Every time she bought something, she would come and show me,” said Ms Selota.
The Rabie Ridge SAPS spokesperson, Constable Jacob Nhlongo, said they searched for the child from when she went missing, but to no avail.
“It is believed the child was raped and strangled. We are appealing to anyone who might have information about the crime to call the police,” he said.
