Central SA
Body of two-year-old found─── 17:34 Wed, 02 Feb 2022
The body of a two-year-old girl was found on Wednesday after a search and rescue operation at Tikwe River, Virginia, in the Free State.
The search started on Tuesday after a passer-by alerted emergency services that a person was seen throwing the girl into the river.
The suspect was arrested and confirmed as the mother of the girl.
Police said the passerby stopped an ambulance that was in the area.
The Emergency Medical Services' staff and the eye witnesses took the suspect to the Virginia Police Station to report the incident.
The 25-year-old mother was then arrested for illegal immigration and murder.
The South African Police Service's Diving Unit and the rescue team launched a search and retrieved the girl's body this morning.
Speaking to OFM News, police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng said the mother is a Lesotho national and does not have the proper documents to be in South Africa.
She is expected to appear in the Virginia Magistrate's Court soon on charges of murder and being an illegal immigrant.
OFM News/Ike Mosia
