This followed after Tariro Jonas went missing on 7 March 2021. 

She was found in Klein Modder River in W-section, Botshabelo. 

Police spokesperson, Thandi Mbambo, says Jonas was reportedly kidnapped by her mother's boyfriend on the said date following a fight between the two. She says "It is alleged that the mother's deceased boyfriend, 26-year-old Kgotso Masukela, assaulted the mother, and as she went to report the domestic violence and assault to the police, the boyfriend walked away with her daughter. The boyfriend was later caught and assaulted by an angry mob on 11 March 2021, five days after Jonas went missing. He later died in hospital after he had confessed to the police to have dumped the body of the girl in the river."

Mbambo adds that police divers searched the area for days with no luck until the body was seen floating in the river on Friday 2 April 2021 by a passerby.

"The deceased was identified by the mother. A post-mortem will be conducted on Tuesday the 6 April 2021 to determine the cause of death and positively confirm the identity of the deceased," she further adds. 

An inquest case has been registered for further investigation. 

Meanwhile, the acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Solly Lesia, has further urged residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands as it jeopardises the investigation of cases.

 OFM News