CAPE TOWN - A devastated Ladismith family of 7-year-old Shitino van Wyngaard, whose charred remains were discovered in a shallow grave, are reeling in shock that a 16-year-old boy, known to them, is alleged to be behind their son's killing.
Shitino’s body, burnt beyond recognition, was found on the Hartmansleegte farm in Hoekoe at about 11am on Tuesday.
The teenage boy who was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the murder is expected to appear in the Ladismith Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
This follows a two-day search for the Grade 1 pupil.
Speaking to the Cape Times, his grandmother Theresa van Wyngaard, 42, said that her grandson, who lived with her and his mother, had visited his father for the weekend.
They don’t live too far from each other, and have a co-parenting relationship.
“He spent Saturday with his father and was supposed to return back here on Sunday. When his father woke up on Sunday, Shitino was gone and he assumed he had come home. However he didn't, he went to his friends. On Monday his mother was worried that he was not back home because the next day schools (were to) reopen for the second term. I went to his father’s workplace and to my surprise, he was shocked to hear Shitino was not with us,” said Van Wyngaard.
A search for Shitino began and when no resident knew the boy’s whereabouts, a missing persons case was filed.
Van Wyngaard said the extensive search continued on Tuesday in bushes, and other people extended it to nearby farms.
The family’s worst nightmare happened when a man who had gone to look for aloe vera in a small dry dam made the discovery and alerted the residents.
“At first, people didn’t believe him because something grim has not happened in this small-knitted place. The 16-year-old boy and another person were the first to go and look. He pointed where the body was.
“On Wednesday Shitino’s friends and my 11-year-old son who saw what happened spoke out. My child is so traumatised he struggles to sleep and is just mute now. All these children need counselling, (as well as) the parents. We are shocked, hurt and sad because we know that teenager. My daughter and Shitino’s father are distraught,” said Van Wyngaard.
The family confirmed they now know the details of what happened on that fateful day, but said they couldn’t disclose them out of fear of jeopardising the case.
Van Wyngaard said she would never forget how her grandson loved food, laughing and playing.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said all available resources including specialised units and experts were used.
“A round-the-clock investigation, spearheaded by the station commander, ensured that sufficient evidence and witness statements could be obtained that linked a 16-year-old suspect to the death of the 7-year-old. Subsequently, the boy was arrested and is currently awaiting assessment by a social worker.”
Meanwhile, the body of autistic 15-year-old Ricardo Khasi has also been found after the teenager went missing on Monday.
This was about the same time Ricardo’s 8-year-old foster sister had also died after being hit by a car.
SAPS spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that Ricardo was found dead after police put out a public plea to assist in the search for the boy on Wednesday.
"A death inquest case was registered to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident," said Twigg.
Ricardo was last seen by his guardian on Monday when he was reportedly last seen wearing a blue top with a red skeleton, and grey trousers.
Olifantsrivier Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) spokesperson Adri du Preez confirmed the centre would be closed today “to come to terms with the tragic loss".
"This is a tragic loss for our personnel. Ricardo was part of our daycare centre for quite some time and we are so very sad about what happened. We would like to thank the community, media and police for their support during the search," said Du Preez, who confirmed Ricardo was an autistic child who was "very funny at times".
"During this week, we heard all the funny things he would say to staff and on the few occasions that I got to interact with him. He was such a pleasure to be with and he loved his ball. His ball calmed him down a lot and he never went anywhere without it. He was such a lovable child," said Du Preez.
Executive director of the Rural and Farmworkers Development, Billy Claassen, supported the family in Vredendal yesterday.
"It is a tragic incident. These are two foster children who were in the guardianship of their foster mother. The girl died on Tuesday after a car accident and now Ricardo was found dead in a dam," said Claassen.
Messages of condolences poured in on social media for the teenager, where it was reported his body was found in a dam and he was believed to have drowned.
Cape Times