Ndudi Anyim
The body of a nine-year-old girl, Tariro Jonas, reportedly kidnapped and murdered by her mother’s boyfriend, Kgotso Masukela, has been found floating in Klein Modder River, W-section, Botshabelo in Free State Province.
Preliminary Investigation revealed that Masukela, had assaulted the mother of the child on March 7, and in a bid to seek redress, the woman had gone to the Police to report the incident, leaving her daughter behind.
The suspect had allegedly returned to the house, kidnapped and killed the child.
According to Colonel Thandi Mbambo, who issued a statement for the South African Police Service in Free State, the case of kidnapping was registered and the Police went on the lookout for the girl.
“ On the Thursday, March 11, at about 23:00, Masukela was caught by community members on the N8 road, dragged to a nearby field and allegedly assaulted. The Police were called in the early hours of Friday March 12, and found him badly injured. He told the Police that he dumped the body of the girl in the river, then later died in hospital. A case of murder was registered.
“ Police divers searched the area for days with no luck until the body was seen floating on the river on Friday, April 2, by a passer-by. The deceased was identified by the mother.
A post-mortem will be conducted on Tuesday, April 6, to determine the cause of death and positively confirm the identity of the deceased.
“ A case of inquest has been registered for further investigation. The acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Solly Lesia called on the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands as it jeapardizes the investigation of cases, ” Mbambo said in the statement.