Body of boy found in box in Warrenton

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Body of four-year-old boy found in box in Warrenton, Northern Cape

It is alleged that the boy left his home in Warrenton to a local tuckshop on Friday 9 October 2020 and never returned.

Body of boy found in box in Warrenton

Image via: Adobe Stock

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape Major General Phiwe Mnguni has strongly condemned the murder of a four-year-old boy in Warrenton, Northern Cape. 

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the boy was found in a box covered with a blanket at Ikhutseng in Warrenton on Friday 9 October 2020. 

WARRENTON: BOY LEAVES HOME, NEVER TO RETURN

It is alleged that the boy left his home to go to a local tuckshop on Friday at about 11:00 and did not return home. The boy was reported missing by the family at the local police station, whereby an intensive search was launched and led by Captain Fourie of Warrenton SAPS.

Police followed up on information and the body of the boy was found at the suspect’s house in Ikhutseng on Friday night. 

“A 36-year-old suspect was arrested and a motive has not yet been established. The suspect is not related to the deceased,” said Brigadier Mohale Ramatseba. 

The suspect is expected to appear before the Warrenton Magistrate’s Court on Monday 12 October 2020. In the meantime, police investigations into the matter are ongoing. 

TEENAGER ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF FOUR-YEAR-OLD RELATIVE 

While police say the case in Warrenton does not involve a relative, a case in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal did. 

On Tuesday 29 September, police in the province arrested a 15-year-old relative for the murder of a four-year-old girl. It is alleged that on 23 September 2020, four-year-old Minenhle Sanelisiwe Mhlongo was left in the care of a relative while her mother went to work. When her mother returned home, she was informed that the little girl went missing and was nowhere to be found. 

On 24 September — one day after the child’s disappearance — the body was found in the bushes near her home on Mvemvane Road at M Section in KwaMashu. 

“She had sustained stab wounds to her body as well as a head injury,” said SAPS Brigadier Jay Naicker. 

The 15-year-old relative has since been moved to a place of safety. 

Apart from the four-year-old girl, the bodies of two women were also found in bushes in KwaMashu on Tuesday 29 September, both of them with gunshot wounds to the head. According to South African Police Service (SAPS) Captain Nqobile Gwala, charges of murder were opened for investigation at KwaMashu SAPS. 

“It is alleged today at 12:30, two bodies of women believed to be in their twenties were found in the bushes on Sigede Road at P Section in KwaMashu,” said Gwala. 

“They were found with gunshot wounds to the head. The matter is still under investigation,” added Gwala.