The discovery of a child’s body in a dustbin on Thursday has angered the Ratanda community outside Heidelberg.

A man (33) and a woman (37), both illegal immigrants, have since been arrested in connection with the murder.

According to Ratanda SAPS communications officer Sergeant Moss Maluleke, the three-year-old child was reported missing in the early hours of that morning.

“After the minor was reported missing, Ratanda SAPS and the SAPS K9 Unit joined the search party with community members searching Ratanda Ext 6,” he says.

The minor’s body was found wrapped in a plastic bag inside a rubbish bin on Maphiri Street, Maluleke adds.

It is alleged the female suspect was caught stealing by the victim’s mother. The young victim then went to visit the female suspect at her residence. The male suspect arrived and went to the bathroom.

The female suspect is alleged to have strangled the victim and when the male suspect returned from the bathroom, he is alleged to have helped the female suspect to dispose of the body.

Both are due to appear in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court soon.

Community members vented their anger and damaged a vehicle on the property by throwing bricks at it. It is reported the vehicle was torched later that evening.

Ratanda police have requested the community not to take the law into their own hands and allow police to investigate.

Members of the public are also urged not to spread rumours and false information as it could hamper the investigation.