Kimberley - Tensions between Phuthanang community members and individuals suspected of being responsible for the disappearance of five-year-old Keitumetse Magwadibane erupted over the weekend.
Keitumetse has been missing for more than 10 days while the police, crime-fighting organisation Wanya Tsotsi and members of the community have been searching for the child since the day she was reported missing by her parents. She has, however, still not been found.
One person has appeared in court in connection with her disappearance.
Tension mounted early on Friday morning after a sangoma and two other individuals were taken in for questioning by police.
The suspects were later arrested after a pair of pink trackpants were found inside the sangoma’s house.
Member of the community wanted to burn down the sangoma’s house and later that day also shifted their anger towards the sangoma’s daughter. Police intervened before the community members could carry out their plans.
Police spokeswoman, Brigadier Masebueng Mochologi, said that the parents of Keitumetse still needed to confirm whether the pants belonged to the missing child.
“At this stage we cannot confirm whether the pants are those of the missing child. The parents would have to identify and verify that the pants belonged to their child. We have taken three suspects in for questioning and our investigation continues,” Mochologi said.
Shocked community members gathered in front of the sangoma’s house as the Dog Unit searched the house for any further evidence. Some expressed their disbelief at the alleged involvement of the sangoma.
“To think that this child’s parents are staying about two streets away from this woman who had their child. People were searching as far as Platfontein for the child and this woman knew the whereabouts of the child,” one community member at the secene said.
A woman, who stays opposite the sangoma’s house, said that she could not believe how “devious” the sangoma was.
“The sangoma was asking about the child just the other day. She enquired whether the child had been found. We told her that the child is still missing but people and the police are searching for her. She then accused the mother of being careless with her child.
“I did not like what she said and thought she would have more understanding since she is also a parent and we all know that children wander off sometimes. There is no parent who can tie their child to their hip in order to keep an eye on them,” the woman said.
Keitumetse’s parents, Frank and Margaret Magwadibane, were among the crowd of people who gathered at the house as police searched for further evidence.
Frank appeared dazed and was pacing up and down. He was later taken away by one of the community members.
Margaret appeared calm and was sitting opposite the house watching the events closely. Community and family members stood by her to give her support. When asked whether she had seen the pants, Margaret said that they belonged to her daughter.
“She was wearing those pants the day she went missing - it was her pants that the police found,” Margaret said .
“I approached the sangoma for assistance in finding my child and she told me she could not see anything. Now they have found my child’s pants inside her house.”
The search at the house was later called off after no further evidence was found.
The investigating officer had to intervene at the shanty of the sangoma’s daughter, and called for calm from community members who had gathered outside the shanty.
“We ask everyone to let us continue our search for the child. We cannot abandon the search because of people who want to use violence during the investigation.
“The police are out searching for the child and incidents such as these hamper our investigations. We have already searched the shanty and found nothing inside.
“We assure you that we are looking under every stone and behind every bush to find the child. We cannot do it successfully when people are threatening violence against others,” he said.
Police spokeswoman, Majang Skalkie, said they would patrol the street to ensure that calm is restored.
Meanwhile Joseph Mbongo was charged with the abduction of the child and appeared in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The case was postponed to August for a formal bail application.
Wanya Tsotsi spokesman, Pantsi Obusitse, said they would continue their search. “It has been tough but we are hopeful that we will find her. We have made progress with several leads and hopefully there will be a breakthrough soon,” he said.
Skalkie said the investigation and the search for the girl are ongoing.
He added that the three suspects arrested on Friday were charged with abduction and are scheduled to appear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court soon.
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