File picture: Gerd Altman, Pixabay
THREE people were stoned to death after the body of an eight-year-old girl was found inside a pit toilet at Senotlelo in Vaalbank, Mpumalanga.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said that Nomsa Sambo went missing and her family reported her as such at the Vaalbank police station on February 12.
"Thereafter, information emerged about a man who was allegedly seen carrying Nomsa to his house. Police then responded to the information and on Monday, February 13, 2023 they took him for questioning.
"A kidnapping case was opened in that regard. However, the man denied all the allegations. There was insufficient evidence by then to charge him hence he was later released," Mohlala said.
He said that on Saturday morning information surfaced that the missing child was inside a pit toilet.
"Police from Vaalbank, as well as members from the Search and Rescue team, rushed to the scene and upon arrival they found (the) lifeless bodies of three individuals, two males and one female on the street.
"The bodies reportedly had serious injuries that suggest that they could have been stoned; and the medical personnel came to the scene as well where they were certified dead. Police also discovered that two vehicles, a Ford Bantam as well as a VW Jetta 4, were burnt to ashes."
He said the child was eventually retrieved from the pit toilet and she was certified dead.
"The three were since identified as Mr Zele Papo Machika, 53, his female friend, Ms Pauline Maubane, 51, as well as their son, Mr Thabo Maubane, 32. The Police later learned that the torched vehicles belonged to Thabo Maubane."
He said the case of kidnapping has since been changed to murder, while three counts of murder have been investigated with regard to the three adults that were murdered.
"No one has been arrested so far and police are investigating this horrific incident."