14 year old girl killed!

The police in Nelspruit are looking for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the rape and murder of 14-year-old girl from Embalenhle.

According to police statement, Mihle Zingamo accompanied her older sister to a local hair salon on Wednesday, but left because she complained that she was hungry. She never arrived home. The girl’s father reported her missing to local police station after which a search was done.

An intensive search for her was then launched in conjunction with the community members and Sector Crime Forum. However, her body was later found dumped on the street in Extension 17, Embalenhle with her hands and feet tied.

“This is not the first incident wherein a child is raped and killed at Embalenhle. In May this year, 11 year old Lerato Nkutha was sent to a nearby shop and her mother became worried when she took longer to come back home. She went to check for her with no success and she then reported the matter to the police who opened a missing person’s inquiry”, police said.

A search which consisted of Detectives, K9 Unit as well as Divers was instituted immediately and it continued until late the following day but with no success.

Two days after Lerato was reported missing, the police were summoned to a certain house where a body of a minor had been found. A short probe by police revealed that the lifeless body was that of Lerato.

According to Detective Captain Sakhile Mlotshwa, Lerato’s killers have not yet been found. He said a new task team has been set up because the police suspect that this might be the work of a serial killer. He said both the cases have since been transferred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations Unit.

Anyone with information that could assist police in the investigation and the arrest of the suspects  in both  incidents can contact Detective Captain Sakhile Simon Mlotshwa at 082 970 5774 or call the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111.