'I was drunk when I attacked Amantle Samane': killer admits guilt

TimesLIVE

2 days ago

Phethe Sara Simiao, 25, says he was drunk when he kidnapped six-year-old Amantle Samane in Orlando, Soweto.
The details of how he kidnapped the girl and took her to his backyard shack are contained in his plea statement.
The Mozambican, who worked as a welder, pleaded guilty to charges of rape, kidnapping, murder and contravention of the Immigration Act in the Johannesburg high court on Friday.
'On the day [October 21 2024] I was drinking whisky with my friend on the streets and I saw Amantle playing on the street and called her,' he said in the plea statement.
'I took her to my shack without her permission.
'I left her in my shack and went outside to buy beer. I prevented her from leaving.'
On his return he undressed, raped and strangled her.
'I was aware that killing someone was wrongful and unlawful and punishable by the law.'
Amantle was playing with other children across the street from her home that day. Her mother Ntombizodwa was preparing clothes for her child's grade R graduation ceremony and completing other household chores, TimesLIVE reported previously.
When she finished, she looked outside and saw Amantle was not there. She began searching and made the discovery of her child's body, partially undressed and covered in a blanket, only a few doors away.
The court is expected to deliver its verdict later on Friday.