Four children murdered: Tip-off leads to arrest of father
Three of the children where found with stab wounds. The youngest was found with open wounds, says the police
LIMPOPO – A 52-year-old man and father of the murder children was arrested, the police confirmed in a statement on Tuesday night.
He was arrested during an intelligence-driven operation led by Cluster Commander of Burgersfort Brigadier Mkhabela together with Mecklenburg Station Commander Colonel Shirinda together with members from the Burgersfort Crime Intelligence, Mecklenburg Detectives, K9, and Malipsdrift Visible Policing units.
Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said the team followed up on information received about the whereabouts of the accused and followed him from an unknown location. He was travelling with one other person and the accused was intercepted in ga-Phasha village at around 20:30 and arrested, Mojapelo added.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba, has hailed the team for the swift arrest of the accused and thanked the community for assisting the police in locating the suspect.
The father will appear in Mecklenburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 20 February on four counts of murder.
18 February 15:00
Four children found murdered, police launch manhunt for father
LIMPOPO – The police in Mecklenburg outside Burgersfort are looking for a 52-year-old man and father of four children whose bodies were found in and around ga-Pasha village on Tuesday, 18 February.
It is alleged the father informed a neighbor this morning about the murders and pinpointed the location of their bodies. The police were notified and the bodies of all four children, were located within a three kilometer radius. Three of the bodies were found in the nearby bushes and a the third of the youngest child was found next to a mountain, said Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo.
Three of children where found with stab wounds. The youngest was found with open wounds, he added.
“Preliminary police investigation revealed that the father stopped the vehicle transporting the children from school along the road on Monday, 17 February at around 15:30. The driver, who apparently knows the father, then let the children leave with him,” explained Mojapelo.
The children were identified as Katlego (9-year-old boy), Joyce (7-year-old girl), Tshepo (5-year-old girl) and Adel Phasha (3- year-old boy).
The motive for the murders is not yet know. Four counts murder have been opened and police request anyone with information to contact Lt Col Phillip Mohlala at 0824143070, or the 24-hour Crime Stop Number at 0860010111.
The motive for this brutal murder is not known at this stage. Four counts murder have been opened and Police investigations are continuing.
Anyone with information is requested to contact Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Mohlala at 0824143070, or the Crime Stop Number 0860010111.
The MEC for Social Development, Nkakareng Rakgoale, has reacted with shock to yet another incident of violence meted against children.
“The situation is unthinkable and we cannot imagine the pain the family is going through. We have once again lost innocent souls in the hands of a perpetrator of Gender Based Violence. We are also calling on communities who might know the whereabouts of the suspect to immediately contact the police, as we want him to face the wrath of the law. When he is arrested we will make sure that he’s not granted bail. I wish to take this opportunity and express my heartfelt condolences to the mother and the rest of family members.” said MEC Rakgoale.
Social workers have since been dispatched to the village to provide psycho-social support to the family. The department has also provided shelter for the mother at an undisclosed place of Safety, while the manhunt is still on for her husband.
