Blemfontein - A relative of a three-year-old girl was arrested for allegedly murdering her after the child was found with 99 stab wounds on her body in Kutloanong, Free State police said on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old woman was arrested on Monday, spokeswoman Molebogeng Lechesa said.
On Friday a mother left her daughters, aged 13 and three years, with a relative because she was going to work.
When she returned, her eldest daughter told her that the relative had gone with her younger sister to the shops to buy sweets and had not returned.
The girl's mother went to several houses looking for her relative but could not find her.
She reported her daughter missing to the police.
The girl's body was found on Sunday in an open field by a shepherd.
“She was found with multiple stab wounds and next to her was a packet of Niknaks and sweets. Her face was covered with a jersey,” Lechesa said.
The girl's name was Karabo Nale.
On Monday police of Odendaalsrus arrested the relative after receiving information about her whereabouts.
“The police found an okapi knife with blood stains on it and her clothes were also covered in blood.
“A post mortem report was done today revealed that the little girl was stabbed 99 times all over her body,” she said.
The motive for the killing is unknown.
The woman was expected to appear in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on a charge of murder.
Sapa