10 hours ago
Kidnapped Gqeberha girl, 12, found dead in bushes close to home
Lithaliyanda Ntoni, 12, disappeared on Tuesday afternoon after failing to return from a shop in Motherwell's NU 10 area.
Her body was discovered on Friday morning in bushes near Khabonqaba Street.
A 39-year-old man has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and murder.
A 12-year-old Gqeberha girl who went missing on Tuesday was found dead in bushes close to her homestead on Friday morning.
Lithaliyanda Ntoni, from Luzipho Street in Motherwell's NU10, was reported missing after she did not return from the shop at about 16:45 on Tuesday, police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said.
Her body was discovered in bushes near Khabonqaba Street in Motherwell NU 6.
Police arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the kidnapping and murder.
Eastern Cape acting police commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso said: 'While we commend the swift arrest in this case, the brutal nature of this child's murder has deeply shocked our officers and the community. We have full confidence in our investigative team and the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure justice for Lithaliyanda and her family.'
This comes days after the burnt bodies of a 17-year-old girl and 19-year-old woman were found in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, also in the Nelson Mandela Bay, last Wednesday.
They were identified as Ibanathi Peter, 17, and Sinothando Malinga, 19.
Police arrested eight people in connection with their murders but later released four of them.
The others - Akhululwe Pungulwa, 28, Anele Ngalo, 27, Siphosethu Gomomo, 21, and Zubenathi Dyakumeni, 2 - briefly appeared in the Kariega Magistrate's Court on Monday.
The four accused abandoned their bail application and the case was postponed to 30 July for further investigation.
