The alleged rapist remains under police guard in a KZN hospital – Photo: Adobe Stock
Police top brass to visit the family of slain three year-old
According to police, the grim discovery was made by a man who was collecting waste in the veld
The alleged rapist remains under police guard in a KZN hospital – Photo: Adobe Stock
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is expected to arrive in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg on Saturday, 20 June 2020, to visit the family of a three year-old girl who was stabbed to death.
The toddler’s body was discovered on Thursday, 18 June, inside a plastic bin, a day after she had been reported missing.
The gruesome and senseless act sent shockwaves across the country and again re-ignited calls for tougher action against gender-based and child abuse.
“Today 18 June 2020 at about 06:00, a person was collecting plastic waste when he noticed the body of a three-year-old girl in a plastic bin. He called the police,” police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said at the time.
Investigations ongoing
The SAPS has since launched an investigation into the horrific crime and are yet to make any arrests.
In the meantime, police will be visiting the family to offer the support.
“The Senior Management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) through its Women’s Network and Men for Change Structure will on Saturday, 20 June 2020 visit Orange Farm”, the SAPS said in a statement.
“This follows the discovery of a three-year-old girl’s body in an open veld, and that of a woman believed to be in her thirties near the Golden Highway”
“Forming part of the delegation will be two Deputy National Commissioners responsible for Human Resource Management including that of Asset and Legal Management, the SAPS Head for Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) and the Divisional Commissioner’s for Detective Services, Visible Policing and Legal Services”
“Psychologists, Social Workers and Chaplains from the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) Component within the Service will also form part of the delegation”
“Gauteng Provincial Office Management will also be in attendance”
Killing of women and children another pandemic
The toddler’s body was discovered a day before President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated his stance against abuse levelled on women and children, describing it as another pandemic which has rocked the country.
Ramaphosa revealed that over the past few weeks, o fewer than 21 women and children had been murdered.
“At a time when the pandemic has left us all feeling vulnerable and uncertain, violence is being unleashed on women and children with a brutality that defies comprehension”, he said.
“These rapists and killers walk among us. They are in our communities. They are our fathers, our brothers, our sons and our friends; violent men with utterly no regard for the sanctity of human life”
