Cape Town - DNA evidence has linked a suspected child rapist and murderer to the killing of a five-year-old, two years after the incident in Gqebera, said police.
The 24-year-old was arrested on Saturday for the murder and rape of Chantelle Makwena in 2019.
Her mother Veronica Makwena, 23, and her sister, 34, left their children at their home in Withoogte, Rocklands, with the alleged suspect, his girlfriend and the girlfriend’s brother on August 2 , 2019 at about 7pm.
When the two women returned about three hours later, they found the front door open and neither of the adults were there.
“Chantelle Makwena was not in her bed and Veronica Makwena went to the neighbour’s house to see if she was there. She was not there as well,” said police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu.
“The mother thought that perhaps Chantelle may have gone to her father’s house which is on another farm and decided to go and look for her there in the morning,”.
Makwena went in search of the child the following day and found that she was neither at her grandmother nor father’s place.
“An intensive search began for the missing child. At 2.55pm, the father, Justin Manele, 29 found the badly battered and bruised body of Chantelle in a toilet near the house in Withoogte. She was half naked and had sustained serious head and facial injuries.
"On the same day, the community caught the alleged suspect and assaulted him. Police attended to a complaint of mob justice and managed to take the suspect away, for his own safety. At the time, he was not charged for the murder and rape. However, DNA was taken and sent to the forensic laboratory for analysis,” sad Naidu.
Investigating officer Chantell Joubert received the forensic report on Saturday. It linked the suspect to the murder and rape of the child.
“He was immediately arrested at Blozo location in Rocklands,” Naidu said.
“The suspect will appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on 2 August, for murder and rape as well as for another rape case which occurred in November 2018.
“The suspect was released for the latter rape on bail and after some court appearances, he failed to appear in court. A warrant for his arrest was issued. However, he evaded police arrest several times.”
Eastern Cape Police Commissioner Liziwe Ntshinga welcomed the arrest, saying: “Sexual violence meted against our women and children is simply intolerable and such acts cannot be ignored. Far too often, this vulnerable group is being murdered by those they love and trust. This child’s life and future had ended in such a brutal way.
“We will be working very closely with the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) to make sure that this suspect is not released on bail again until the finalisation of both cases.
“As we enter Women’s Month in August, I urge every South African to be part of a generation that would put an end to gender inequality.’’
Cape Times