Child, 5, ‘kidnapped, raped and murdered’ by teen

Provincial police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said that on Saturday at about 5.30am the deceased’s aunt apparently woke up to do her daily chores and discovered the front door was wide open. On inspection, she noticed her niece was missing. She searched the premises, but the girl was nowhere to be found.

“A case was opened for investigation, and a search was conducted. Later that day the missing girl was found in a storm water drain and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where she later died,” added Zwane.

Following an intensive investigation, police were able to locate the whereabouts of a suspect, and he was arrested. He appeared at the KwaDukuza Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Etete residents protested outside the court to oppose a bail for the accused, North Coast Courierreported.

Velani township councillor Njabulo Mbonambi said he was not sure if the man was from Etete.

Apparently the accused is also under investigation for the murder and rape of a senior Etete resident on the night of December 31 last year.

In a separate incident, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and raped in Elsburg, near Germiston, on the East Rand.

The teenager was allegedly abducted by four unknown men driving in a taxi at about 4.30pm on April 7. Elsburg police spokesperson Constable Daphney Phooko said the girl was on her way home after getting off a train at the Elsburg Train Station. While walking home, she was allegedly abducted.

“It is also alleged they drove to the Delmore informal settlement, where the actual rape was committed. She was raped by all four men, who did not use condoms,” she said.

Phooko added after the alleged rape, the suspects drove to another location, where the driver took out a firearm, pointed it at the victim and threatened to kill her.

– Caxton News Service