Latest news with #Simiao
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Child rapist awaits sentencing for the rape and murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane
The funeral service for six-year-old Amantle Samane, who was raped and killed by Mozambican national Sara Simiao, drew large crowds of Orlando East, Soweto, last year. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Convicted child killer and rapist, Sara Pete Simiao, will hear his fate next week, where the court will sentence him for the rape and murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane in Orlando East during October last year. The Mozambican national Simiao, 25, pleaded guilty to four charges of kidnapping, rape, murder and contravention of the Immigration Act. The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division in Johannesburg, convicted him on all counts. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, said State advocates Zamikhaya Staffa and Matshediso Phatlanyane presented the charges in court. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'In his plea, through his counsel, Simiao admitted to all charges. He provided a detailed recounting of the horrific acts he committed, confessing that he was under the influence of alcohol and had strangled the victim to conceal the rape. 'On the day of the incident, the six-year-old's mother, with the help of the Orlando East community, searched for her missing daughter. A witness, who had earlier seen the child walking with Simiao, who he knew was not a relative, became suspicious and led the community members to a shack where the child's lifeless, half-naked body was found. 'After an extensive search and investigation, the suspect was located and arrested by police in Zola, Soweto, on 23 October 2024,' said Mjonondwane. The high court reviewed all aspects of the plea, found him guilty as charged, and adjourned the case to August 19 for sentencing. Mjonondwane said: 'Each of these successful prosecutions is the culmination of months and even years of painstaking investigative and prosecutorial work and exemplifies hundreds of similar cases prosecuted successfully daily.' Amantle was tragically raped and murdered just a month before her Grade R graduation and the day before her graduation photo session.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Man who raped and murdered Amantle Samane to be sentenced after admitting guilt
Amantle Samane's family faces an emotional court day as Simiao is set to be sentenced on Tuesday. The man who raped and murdered six-year-old Amantle Samane will be sentenced on 19 August after pleading guilty to all four charges against him in the High Court in Johannesburg on Friday. Pethe Sara Simiao, a 25-year-old Mozambican national, faced charges of kidnapping, rape, murder and Contravention of the Immigration Act. Amantle Samane goes missing In October last year, the community of Orlando East in Soweto joined a mother's search for her little girl after she went missing. She had last been seen playing with other children before Simiao called her to his rented shack at one of the houses in the neighbourhood. He allegedly raped and killed the girl inside the shack and then went into hiding. 'A witness, who had earlier seen the child walking with Simiao, who he knew was not a relative, became suspicious and led the community members to a shack where the child's lifeless, half-naked body was found,' National Prosecuting Authority Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said in a statement. Simiao's arrest and guilty plea After an extensive search and investigation, the suspect was located and arrested by police in Zola, Soweto, on 23 October 2024. In his plea, through his counsel, Simiao admitted to all charges. ALSO READ: Four-year-old from Eldorado Park dies after alleged abuse by father He provided a detailed account of the heinous acts he committed and confessed that he was under the influence of alcohol and had strangled Samane to conceal the rape. 'The court reviewed all aspects of the plea, found him guilty as charged and adjourned the case to 19 August 2025 for sentencing,' Mjonondwane said. 'We all broke down in tears' Samane's family members were present in court for the verdict. Speaking to TimesLive after the proceedings, the family's spokesperson Brenda Mjiyako said listening to Simiao's account of the murder was heartbreaking. 'It brought back the memories: of her last day, the pictures of where we found Amantle deceased, and the mortuary,' Mjiyako said. 'The mother broke down, we all broke down in tears. We knew this day would come but we didn't think it would be so difficult. When they were reading, step by step what had happened, you could reflect back. It was painful.' She said what Simiao did was inhuman, and that no normal human being could do what he did to Samane. Mjiyako added that it will be Samane's birthday on Tuesday when sentencing begins, which will not be an easy day for her mother. NOW READ: Man gets life sentence for raping minor with Down syndrome, claims victim is his girlfriend
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Amantle Samane's family in pain as her killer found guilty
The family of six-year-old Amantle Samane, who was murdered in Soweto last year, are struggling to contain the pain caused by her killer Phethe Sara Simiao. The Mozambican, who worked as a welder, was found guilty of rape, kidnapping, murder and contravention of the Immigration Act in the Johannesburg high court on Friday. He pleaded guilty earlier in the day, saying he was intoxicated when, on October 21 2024, he saw the child playing on the street, took her to his backyard shack, kept her there against her will, raped and strangled her. His case was postponed to Tuesday for pre-sentencing proceedings. Amantle's mother Ntombizodwa Samane sobbed when the plea statement was read into the court record. The family's spokesperson Brenda Mjiyako said it was a heartbreaking session when they heard his version of the murder. 'It brought back the memories: of her last day, the pictures of where we found Amantle deceased, and the mortuary. 'The mother broke down, we all broke down in tears. We knew this day would come but we didn't think it would be so difficult. When they were reading, step by step what had happened, you could reflect back. It was painful.' She said what Simiao did was inhuman. 'There is no normal human being who can do what [he] did to Amantle. 'Next week, on Tuesday, is the beginning of sentencing. Her mother will be on the stand again and it is Amantle's birthday on Tuesday. It is not going to be easy,' she said. Amantle was playing with other children across the street from her home that day. Her mother was preparing clothes for her 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. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane welcomed the decision by Simiao to not waste the NPA and the court's time by pleading guilty. 'We look forward to the next step, which is pre-sentencing proceedings. As the state, we will prepare a victim impact report and further evidence will also be led' she said.
Eyewitness News
27-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
NPA confident in case against man accused of raping, murdering Amantle Samane
JOHANNESBURG - With a trial date now set, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it's ready to go head-to-head with the man accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in Soweto. Twenty-four-year-old Pethe Simiao, a Mozambican national, is accused of kidnapping, raping, and killing Amantle Samane, whose body was discovered in his shack in Orlando in October 2024. He's also charged with contravening immigration laws. On Tuesday, the State and Simiao's legal team wrapped up pre-trial proceedings at the Johannesburg High Court. The matter has now been set down for trial from 31 July to 8 August. The NPA said it was confident in its case. NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane said: "We are ready to proceed to trial as the State. We are finalising the consultation process with our witnesses, but come the 31st of July, we'll be ready to call our first witness. There were prospects of a successful prosecution, hence we decided to enrol the matter. So as the State, we are ready to present a formidable case before court." Simiao remains in custody. ALSO READ: Alleged child rapist, murdered Simiao intends to plead guilty to one of four
Eyewitness News
27-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Trial date set for the alleged rapist and murderer of a 6-year-old Soweto girl
JOHANNESBURG - A trial date has been set for Pethe Sara Simiao, the man accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in Soweto. The 24-year-old Mozambican national was arrested in October last year, after the body of six-year-old Amantle Samane was found inside his shack in Orlando, Soweto. READ: Amantle Samane murder-accused due back in court After several appearances at the Protea Magistrates Court, his matter was transferred to the Johannesburg High Court where he now faces four charges, including kidnapping, murder, rape, and contravening the Immigration Act. During the early stages of the case, Simiao abandoned his bid for bail after the State indicated it would strongly oppose his release due to his undocumented status in South Africa. He appeared in court on Tuesday to wrap up his pre-trial hearing, looking dishevelled and keeping his head hung low. Usually, this stage allows accused persons to plead guilty or not guilty. But Simiao has only indicated an intention to plead guilty to one count, relating to immigration violations. The court heard that formal pleas would be entered at the start of the trial. "Now this matter has been postponed for plea and trial to the 31st of July 2025. The estimated duration for this trial is to the 8th of August 2025." Simiao will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
