A MISSING persons case turned into a murder inquiry after the mutilated body of a three-year-old Mtubatuba child was found floating in a river.
The child was reported missing on 10 December after he failed to return home with three older children he had allegedly followed earlier in the day.
According to police reports, the boy’s guardian, after seeing the child running after the older children, called to them to keep an eye on him.
When they returned later they said they had not heard her and had not seen him.
After three days, his mutilated body was found three kilometres from where he was last seen, floating in the Nyalazi River in the Nkundusi area.
While the cause of death is yet to be established, community members believe he was murdered by a sangoma for muthi.
PHOTO: SAPS
There is much unrest among the community, whose members are calling for justice and threatening to take the law into their own hands.
‘While the case is still under investigation and the exact cause of death has not been determined, it is very dangerous to get angry and take the law into your own hands,’ said Lt Col Mpungose of Mtubatuba Visible Policing.
Mtubatuba police officers and traditional leaders addressed the angry community members, urging them to be calm and let the investigation takes its course.
‘Police and the community must work together, I strongly urge people to come to us should they have any information.’
Mpungose urged people to refrain from attacking anyone they believe to be a suspect, or burning down any houses in their quest for justice.
Echoing these sentiments, Nkundusi leader iNduna Mantengu said,’ Although this is a huge loss to our community, let us not fight first, but find out the truth first.’
He urged the public to bring any information to either him or the SAPS.
‘Such a young child being allowed to go somewhere without the supervision of its parents is an offence in itself,’ said Mtubatuba Communications Officer, Captain Justice Hlabisa.
He urged parents to keep a close eye on their children.
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