NELSPRUIT – The skeletal remains of a human was discovered in the bushes at Nkanini Trust near Masoyi outside White River. The gruesome discovery was made on Sunday, 14 August 2022 around 10:00 am.
According to the report, children from an initiation school were in the bushes collecting wood when they made the discovery. Police were then alerted and upon their arrival, all other role-players were then summoned to the scene. The Forensic Unit of the police later confirmed the skeleton as that of a human being. The members also found some clothes believed to be that of the victim during the discovery. An inquest case was opened however, it was changed to murder after some ground work was done by the Detective team.
Police connected their dots and discovered there was a girl who went missing in December 2021 and reported as such by her family in the beginning of January 2022. Preliminary investigation by the team of experts in the investigation field revealed that the skeletal remains could be that of the 15-year-old girl who vanished without a trace. The family believes it is her as they identified the dress that was found at the scene.
Whilst investigating the case, a woman stormed into the police station at Masoyi on 15 August 2022, claiming that some members of the community wanted to kill her after being accused of shielding the suspect. Police managed to calm the situation while requesting members of the public to leave everything in the hands of the police. The team received crucial information in their probe from a member from the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Community in Blue to be specific regarding the whereabouts of the suspect. The details were followed which culminated into his arrest at Malelane, of course with the great help offered by the police from Malelane SAPS. It is further believed that the suspect attempted to flee from the authorities when he was cornered.
The 24-year-old male suspect has since been charged for murder as well as defeating the ends of justice. He is due to appear at the Masoyi Periodical Court on Wednesday, 17 August 2022 facing the said charges. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against the suspect as the investigation proceeds.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has hailed the breakthrough made by the members of the police however the General has vehemently condemned the acts of violence against defenceless women. "It is a shameful thing that a similar incident of this nature occurred in the same policing area of Masoyi where the little girl, Buntle Mashiyane was brutally murdered recently. We never expected that such an atrocity can be experienced by this community in a short space of time. This is a moral issue and we urge Faith-Based Organisations as well as Traditional Leaders to join hands with us to fight the scourge" said the General.
Source: South African Police Service