Tebogo Msimanga |
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has urged community members to closely work with the police in the prevention of crimes perpetrated against children. This is after a 6 year old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by the man who was in turn stoned to death by community members at Petanenge village outside Tzaneen this afternoon, Saturday 19 February 2022.
Limpopo Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the Police received a report about the body of a child at Lusaka village and that of a 28 year old man in Petanenge village, both under Ritavi policing area.
“On arrival they found the body of a child with brutal neck injuries and the man appeared to have been stoned to death.Preliminary Police investigations revealed that the six years old child allegedly fetched some oranges from her grandmother’s home at about 08h30 and never reached her homestead.”
Mojapelo said the family, assisted by community members started searching for her and later, at about 14h00, they reportedly received information that the child was last seen with the suspect who stays at Lusaka village under Ritavi policing area. They then proceeded to the area and allegedly found him hiding in the house.
“The suspect, allegedly told community members that he raped the child and then killed her to conceal evidence. He then led them to the place where he hid the body. On arrival, the body was indeed found hidden under the shrubs.”
Commissioner Hadebe warned all people to desist from taking the law into their own hands but actively assist the police in the fight against crime.
Police opened cases of rape and murder against the suspect (deceased) and and another case of murder that resulted from vigilantism.
