Final hours of murdered 6-year-old Ballito girl begin to emerge

As Ballito mother Fungai Nyamadzawo appeared in court last week for the premeditated murder of her daughter, six-year-old Alexia, details began emerging of the Umhlali Prep School child’s final hours.

Neighbours of the family in Kingston Estate told The North Coast Courier that the night before Alexia’s murder, Saturday May 30, they heard the sounds of a loud disturbance coming from their apartment.

They were so concerned that they called the estate security to investigate.

The following evening, Fungai Nyamadzawo raised the alarm that her child had been kidnapped from her car and police launched an intensive search for her around Shayamoya and along the Glendale road, where the mother claimed she had been snatched.

After a two-day search by police, helped by farmers on quad bikes, Alexia’s body was found lying in the open in a sugar cane field near Riet Vlei, behind Shakaskraal.

Police reports reveal that Alexia’s 14-year-old sister had also been in the car that evening.

Police took in 42-year-old Fungai Nyamadzawo, a Zimbabwean national, for questioning on Monday and quickly came to the conclusion that she had been responsible for the death of her child.

The family moved to Ballito about 10 years ago.

Alexia’s father, Charlton Nyamadzawo, is son of a former mayor of the Zimbabwean town of Kwekwe.

The story has received widespread coverage in the Zimbabwean media.

Fungai Nyamadzawo appeared in the Umhlali magistrates court last Wednesday, charged with premeditated murder.

It is understood she will also be facing charges of kidnapping, assault, attempted murder, obstruction of justice and making false statements to police.

She was not asked to plead when the charges were read out before Magistrate Van Heerden.

At the request of state prosecutor Sanesh Rambarun, the formal bail hearing was postponed to Wednesday, June 10 and the accused remained in custody.

Defense attorney Rakesh Maharaj has asked for a Shona interpreter for the formal court proceedings, which are expected to be held in Stanger.

Charlton Nyamadzawo was present at the hearing looking composed and sombre.

According to Zimbabwean media her grandfather, Reason Nyamadzawo, is trying to arrange for Alexia’s body to be taken back to Zimbabwe for burial.