A 38-year-old man is expected to appear before the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 10 November 2021 on a charge of murder.
The suspect’s court appearance stems from his apprehension on Monday, 8 November 2021, following an incident wherein the body of 10-year-old Kamogelo Sithole was found inside his shack in Sonderwater informal settlement, Ikageng near Potchefstroom.
It is alleged that on Thursday, 4 November 2021, the suspect was supposedly appearing in court on a charge of attempted murder for an alleged incident that was reported in June 2021, of which the complainant is his former girlfriend. Furthermore, it is said that the suspect left the court, without appearing and as a result, a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Upon leaving the court, the suspect allegedly proceeded to a Primary School in Ikageng, where his ex-girlfriend’s 10-year-old girl, Kamogelo Sithole, is a learner and kidnapped the child. This was the last time the girl was seen alive.
When the child did not return home after school, the mother reported a case of kidnapping at Ikageng police, and a search for the girl as well as the suspect ensued.
On Sunday, 7 November 2021 at about 14:00, the suspect was traced to Zakhkele informal settlement in Ikageng. He was immediately arrested, but could not give the police a full account of what happened to the girl. On Monday, 8 November 2021, the police proceeded to the suspect’s shack. Upon conducting a search at about 09:45, the lifeless body of Kamogelo was found, hidden under the bed. It is suspected that she was strangled. The possibility that the deceased might have been raped cannot be ruled out and is under investigation.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, has condemned in the strongest possible terms this act of criminality. He reiterated that the police will do everything in their power to ensure that the suspect is held accountable and pay for this heinous crime in prison.