Cape Town - Relief was the dominant emotion felt by the family of little Inganathi Mnani upon receiving news of the arrest of the alleged killer of the 7-month-old infant from Philippi. The family told the Cape Argus they have a glimmer of hope.
A 33-year-old man is alleged to have brutally murdered the infant in a fit of rage after an argument broke out between him and Inganathi’s mother, Andisiwe Mnani.
The suspect, recently released from prison after serving two years for shoplifting, got into a physical fight with the infant’s mother early on Monday.
It was during the fight that Inganathi rolled and fell to the floor. In a fit of rage, the suspect is alleged to have beaten the baby, swinging her around the room, slamming her tiny body against the walls and ceiling, before throwing her across the room and stepping on her. He immediately fled the scene and went into hiding.
Police confirmed the baby died as a result of her injuries.
After a week-long search, police received a tip-off about the whereabouts of the suspected killer.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the suspect was arrested on Friday and was facing charges of assault and murder. He would appear in the Athlone Magistarte’s Court on Monday.
On Sunday, Andisiwe’s aunt, Nosithembile Funani, told the Cape Argus the family was delighted to hear of the arrest.
“We are so relieved he has been arrested. We are more than happy. This has given us hope that there is a chance of justice being served.”
Funani said the investigating officer told them the news on Friday morning. “He told the family they had received a call from someone who told them the suspect had been squatting in their home at the New Rest informal settlement, in Gugulethu.”
Funani said the family had postponed Inganathi’s funeral to Thursday and would attend the court case on Monday.
“We are going to be there. We want him to face us.”
One of the first people to make a public appeal calling for residents to help find the suspect was Community Safety MEC Dan Plato.
On Sunday, Plato welcomed the arrest. “This is what I wanted, why I made a public outcry. I am very pleased with the swift action the police took in finding this man and now it is up to the courts to deal with him appropriately.”
While in hiding, Mnani’s mother, Khululwa Ruga, said the suspect had made threatening calls to the family. She said they feared him because he had a history of violence.
“He once smashed my house windows and broke our door because my daughter refused to come out and talk (to) him. We are scared of him.”
Cape Argus