Mother distraught after child’s death

The mother of the five-year-old twin girl who died on July 5 after being kidnapped and assaulted, said she could not understand how it happened.

Velile Mgomezulu was found on Sunday morning near a drain in Etete by community members with injuries to her head and was taken to hospital where she died around midnight.

Her mother, Senzeni Mgomezulu said her daughter was staying with her in Shaka’s Head. However since it is school holidays, Velile and her twin sister Nomvelo asked to visit their aunt in Etete.

Velile was in grade R at RA Padayachee Primary School in Shaka’s Head and her mother thinks her child may have known the man who is responsible for her rape and murder.

“She had serious injuries to her head and none to her body. If only the killer didn’t assault her, then she might still be alive. Then she would have been able to tell exactly what happened that night,” said Mgomezulu.

“I do not understand how someone can break a door while there are people inside the house, take a child and leave with her, while all the other children stay put, until their aunt came to check on them around 4.30am. I would like to be assured that the children were not alone on that night,” said Mgomezulu.

According to the police statement, Velile’s aunt woke up on Sunday morning in order to do her daily chores and discovered that the front door was wide open. Only then she noticed that Velile was missing.

She searched the house, but the girl was nowhere to be found and she called the police.

Umhlali SAPS arrested a 19-year-old man who on Tuesday, July 7, appeared in the Umhlali magistrates court while the Etete community members protested outside the court to oppose bail for the accused.

Velile was buried in Mandeni on Saturday, July 11 and her mother said she and her family are grateful for the support of the Etete community and their councillor Njabulo Mbonambi.