Two-year-old Lumingaye Mthethwa of KwaBangibizo in the Esgqungeni area in Mtwalume was found dead at her home recently.
It is believed that she was murdered by her mother’s boyfriend, who has since been arrested.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the incident.
“Police have arrested a suspect, aged 34, for kidnapping and killing a two-year-old girl.”
Netshiunda said it is believed the couple had an argument, which allegedly led him to kidnap the little girl and kill her.
The distraught mother, Phumzile Mthwethwa, said she was not home when her daughter was taken by her boyfriend.
She had opened an assault case against him as he had been physically abusing her.
“The police were looking for him and had asked him to hand himself over, but he did not.”
Mthethwa said he would usually fetch the child to spend some time with her, and the day before the incident, he did exactly the same.
She said she was not at home, but her younger sister, Anele Mthethwa, was there. He came to fetch Lumingaye and said he was going next door.
“When I got home and realised my child was not home, I phoned the police and the local forum. He then phoned me on the Sunday at about 05:00 and told me to look outside the house, near the water tank.”
She said that is when she found her child covered with his jacket.
Mthethwa said she is waiting for the post-mortem results to know how he killed her.
Anele said she is upset because her sister’s boyfriend took the child from her, and she gave her to him because she did not think he would harm her.
Reverend Mafungwase Mbili, founder of the Girls Gloves Up Foundation, said communities should stand up and not keep quiet about such incidents.
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