eMbalenhle community in shock by the death of toddlers
Some community members suspect a serial killer or muti murderer is operating at Ext 16 in eMbalenhle, but the police say it is still too soon for such speculations.
The community of eMbalenhle still reels from shock by the mysterious murders of two toddlers in Ext 16.
This is after the death of Thingo Mahlangu (4) in May and the recent murder of Khayone Pakeni (2). Both toddlers went missing from their yards in Ext 16 and several days later, their bodies were found dumped in the same veld, but in different spots.
Thingo went missing while playing in the yard on Fifth Street on the afternoon of April 17. His half-naked body was found dumped in the veld close to his home late in the afternoon of May 2.
A man, who was hunting with his dogs in the veld, stumbled across the tiny body in the same area that had been searched a week before when the eMbalenhle former police station commander, Colonel Maria Sibanyoni, led a search for the missing Thingo on April 26 together with the K9 Unit, taxi patrollers and community members.
The police opened a murder case but arrested no one yet. Khayone disappeared at about 10:00 from a yard in Third Street in Ext 16 on October 9.
He was playing outside while his mother, Funeka, made tea in the house, but he was nowhere to be found when she came outside.
The mother immediately sought help from neighbours, who joined in the search for the child without success. The police and the community searched the area without success.
The police announced on October 18 a task team to head up a large-scale search for Khayone on October 21.
Community members found the child’s body in the veld next to Ext 15 that day.
Funeka Pakeni identified the body as that of her son through the clothes he was wearing on the day of his disappearance.
Some community members suspect a serial killer is operating at Ext 16 in eMbalenhle, targeting toddlers, mostly boys, while some suspect ritual killings. The veld in which the bodies were found belongs to Sasol. The police do not want to link the two cases yet.
“I think it is too early to make such conclusions because the team is still in pursuit of the perpetrator(s),” said the provincial spokesman, Colonel Donald Mdhluli.
“It will be proper to allow the team space to do a thorough investigation without being distracted or diverted, but to get to the gist of what has transpired without speculating.”
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