On 15 December 2021 at 19:00, a 10-year-old Ayabulela Abongwe Kubheka from the Nyezane area disappeared from the care of his grandmother who had left him in bed to warm a meal. On her return, he was nowhere to be found and was reported missing at Amangwe police station for investigation.
It is alleged that on the 25 December at 06:00 Ayabulela’s uncle was outside when a dog was seen with a human leg in its mouth. He later spotted the dogs digging in the neighbor’s yard and went to investigate. Upon investigating he discovered a shallow grave and called the nearby community members to assist him to dig up the grave. They found the body of Ayabulela and called the police.
The 32-year-old neighbor who was also a relative attempted to escape but was apprehended by the community. The suspect allegedly told the community that he killed the boy by choking him because he needed his body to protect his house from being bewitched by people. He dug a shallow grave in his yard and buried him.
He was arrested and appeared yesterday in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder. He is remanded into police custody until 6 January 2022 for further investigation.
