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MICHAEL WALKER
A policeman, carrying evidence bag containing takkies, walks from the scene where eight-year-old Zikhona Qhayi was found murdered in Khayelitsha. Photo by Michael Walker
On Monday a Khayelitsha grandfather heard a news report about a serial rapist who had assaulted dozens of children in his community, and another report about the murder of a Gugulethu toddler.
Hours later his nightmare started when his granddaughter, Zikhona Qhayi, 8, went missing. Yesterday her body was found on bushy dunes in Harare, Khayelitsha.
She is the second child to be murdered in Cape Town in five days. “I can’t believe this has happened to her. Our girl. She had her whole life in front of her. Now she’s just another dead child,” Max Seku, Zikhona’s grandfather, said yesterday near the spot where her body was found. “I heard about this happening to other children. I heard the awful things that have been happening and now it’s real. I saw her body with my own eyes.”
Zikhona’s mother, Tisia Qhayi, collapsed after hearing that her only child had been murdered, and Seku said she had been hospitalised for shock. After Zikhona’s body was found on the bushy dunes, angry community members gathered nearby as police officers scoured a large cordoned-off area. An officer could be seen carrying two evidence bags containing what appeared to be a man’s takkies and clothing. Members of the police’s tactical response team, some heavily armed, searched for clues, and a sniffer dog was used.
While police were busy on the dunes, residents cheered as a rumour spread that a man, apparently a relative of Seku’s, had been arrested for Zikhona’s murder. Shaking his head, Seku appeared dazed and eventually walked away from the cheering crowd, covering his ears to block the shouting.
It later emerged that no arrest had been made.
Max Seku, grandfather of Zikhona Qhayi, 8, who was found murdered in Khayelitsha yesterday, covers his ears as angry residents shout after hearing that someone had apparently been arrested for the killing. But it was later discovered that this was not the case. Picture: Michael Walker
CAPE TIMES
Earlier, Seku said Zikhona had been playing outside their Harare home on Monday afternoon. “She didn’t come inside at the usual time. By 8pm she still wasn’t inside,” he said.
Seku and Zikhona’s mother immediately started looking for her. At 1am they called the police. “We looked everywhere, but nothing. We were awake the whole night looking,” Seku said.
At 8am Seku saw a commotion on the dunes near their home. “I ran up the hill, through the bushes. Then I saw her. There was stuff lying around her,” he said. Seku said Zikhona had still been dressed in jeans and a pink top.
“I tried to see if she was stabbed, but couldn’t. I don’t know how she died. Who would hurt a child? Who would see something so little playing outside with her friends and then want to hurt this little person? I can’t understand. All I’m clinging to right now is that God gives and takes, and I need to make peace with that,” he said, wiping his tears away.
Seku said Zikhona had been a bright child who loved dancing.
On Friday, five days before Zikhona’s murder, three-year-old Athenkosi Nkone was killed in Gugulethu. A man who lived nearby has been arrested.
Last Tuesday, 21-month-old Ovayo Maxetuka went missing from his Khayelitsha home. His grandmother and a neighbour were arrested on suspicion of selling him. Ovayo was found unharmed three days later with a woman who has been arrested.
Last week police said they had arrested a 25-year-old man in Philippi who had been linked to more than 20 rapes in Khayelitsha involving children.
Anyone with information about Zikhona’s murder may contact Warrant Officer René Burger on 021 360 9000, Captain Sakkie van der Westhuizen on 079 880 9861 or CrimeStop anonymously on 08600 10111. - Cape Times
caryn.dolley@inl.co.za
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^_^, wrote
The death penalty will never be put into a referendum, the rule in politics is never hold referendums you know your gonna lose i.e. Government doesn't want to bring it back.
MARLENA, wrote
PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOOKING AFTER CHILDREN, PLEASE, PLEASE, KEEP YOUR EYES GLUED ON THESE CHILDREN UNDER YOUR CARE, IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO, KEEP THEM IN THE HOUSE, PLEASE PLEASE (MY HEART BLEEDS!)
gef.o., wrote
Yes, the whole nation should be able to vote about bringing back the death penalty. But parents must also be responsible for their children!!!
Anonymous, wrote
Why not put the death penalty to a national referendum this has to be a collective decision by the whole nation. Am sure it will be brought back
Stormy, wrote
Parents should start behaving like parents! I have never heard of allowing an 8 year old to play outside until 8 pm??? My children were not allowed out of the gate! Why did they wait until 1 am to report her missing? While my heart goes out to the mother and family, people really need to be more responsible and disciplined when it comes to their children.
Anonymous, wrote
I agree with Selena, the death penalty, WITH castration is the only option. When is this going to end? Children can't be just kids any more, every day they are threatened, abused, raped, killed, and yet our government does nothing.
graham mackenzie,kloof, wrote
in a democracy the laws should reflect the views and morals of the majority of the people,and not be imposed by politicians who happen to have the biggest mouths and egos and loudest voices; the ANC sees itself as the champion of democracy;so then,let the people of SA decide,in a referendum, whether the death penalty should be part of our law; we have to live amongst these barbaric criminals WITHOUT the bodyguards etc that the politicians and their sidekicks enjoy[at taxpayers' expense!] so who the hell are they to dictate to us in this regard.
rttn, wrote
SA is rotten, rotten to the core
Anonymous, wrote
If i ever get hold of someone who attempts or who is busy raping or killing a child i will get my 28 brasse an dhave him sodomised in ways he never thought he could be. When they done with that, i will make sure he dies a cruel and slow death.Lets just hope i never get hold of you. My heart goes out to th e families who lost thier children to this bastards.
Anonymous, wrote
Yhu its so sad.where the hell are our kids gonna play. Makaxhonywe umntu obulala umntwana. Please Mr Pres. bring back death penalty baphela abantwana bethu
^_^, wrote
Ubuntu doesn't exist, takes village to raise a child more like it takes a village to rape a child, these communities need to do more to protect themselves, parents needs to be more responsible or if they are unable to form ties with neighbours. They must have some idea who is perpetrating the crime int heir area. Reminds me of how, in recent news, the Uganda witch doctors are sacrificing children and althought the community knows they are doing it do nothing...for shame!!!
Sisi, wrote
Why everything is all about the kids this year..there were lots of school accidents this year now its killing of the young kids..really this is not nice...i dont if we are under a curse or what but we should pray for our South Africa to be saved.
Jaydee, wrote
Same sad old lament! Death Penalty? Then what? Like the rainbow nation? So what? In whatwhich SA are you living if you believe that our kids were ever safe? So when last did you take a nice leisurely stroll through one of our picturesque and quaint "townshipslocations" to see how safe and secure our beautiful kids - yes our future - are and live? So for those Saffers who hide behind security beams and high fences and rely on all manner of ineffective anti-crime measures, those who only know the SA they read about in the news... Wake up and get real! Why not take a walk on the wild side and see the REAL South Africa, then open your eyes, before you open your mouths!
Anonymous, wrote
Lets all march against the goverment with a petition forcing them to BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY NOW SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL.
Anonymous, wrote
Tisia Qhayi it is sad and my heart weeps with you and the grand father of the little girl as I am a grand father i can image how it felt to discover that the one's only child had been stripped of her life.Every person has the right to live and who is this person to take the life of a child. Human Rights se voet. The culprit must be given to the community to be dealt with. My condolences to you and your family
@ZEEK, wrote
Children should be safe and able to play outside at ANY given time! Its the perpetrators not their parents who deserve to be blamed
LIZ, wrote
LAWLESS COUNTRY THAT'S WHY!!!! ZUMA YOU HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN IS THAT WHY YOU DON'T CARE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OURS?
James, wrote
Death penalty - bring it back. What is the debate? How often do we read these types of stories? Something drastic is required to change this.
Anonymous, wrote
as a survivor of sexual abuse, I can tell you that the death penalty won't stop the crazy sick people in this world; if they are rich and have good lawyers, they will go free
Selena, wrote
Bring back the Death Penalty!!!!!!!
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