North West Police spokesperson, Amanda Funani, says 7-year-old Keitumetse Tumelo from Brits is the latest victim of such a crime.

Tumelo was last seen alive on Tuesday (22 June) in the Letlhabile suburb in Brits after getting on a local taxi. Two days after this her lifeless body was found amongst the bushes in Letlhabile.

She was half-naked and had visible head injuries. Funani says a 51-year-old man has since been apprehended for the murder on Thursday (24 June) - the same day Tumelo’s body was found.

He is said to be the ex-boyfriend to the 7-year-old’s mother.

“As part of an ongoing investigation, a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of the young girl's death. An additional rape charge might be added to the charges after post-mortem results. Investigations into the matter continue,” says Funani.

The 51-year-old suspect was meant to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Friday (25 June) but couldn’t due to a reported Covid-19 case. He will therefore appear in the same courthouse on Monday for his bail application.

This development in the North West comes after two women and one man were arrested for the kidnapping and murder of the 8-year-old Bokamoso Shabe, from Thabong in Welkom this week. Shabe’s body was found in Riebeeckstad days after she was snatched from the Mmantshebo Primary School on Monday (21 June).

A R50 000 ransom was initially wanted in exchange for the young girl’s safe return.

The motive of the murder in the latter case is yet to be unveiled by police.

OFM News