On Thursday Free State girl’s body was found in an open field wrapped in a duvet, still in a school uniform when she was found, in Welkom.
According to News24, the 8-year-old Bokamotso Shabe went missing on Monday. She was last seen at Mmantshebo Primary School in Jerusalem Park.
Kidnappers demand R50 000 ransom
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said preliminary investigations revealed that Shabe was abducted from school by an unknown woman.
The grandmother of the child was contacted at 15:00 that day by an unknown man who called himself Aubrey, demanding an amount of R50 000 and further threatening to kill the child if they do not receive the money.
On Tuesday morning, the family received another call from a woman named Nthabeleng, who also demanded R50 000 for the child’s safe return.
“Since she was reported missing, the Lejweleputswa district team, consisting of various units, worked tirelessly [to search] for her. On Thursday, at about 14:30, the team came across a gruesome scene where her body was found,” Makhele said.
Police arrest suspects for murder of Free State girl
According to IOL, A 34-year-old woman was taken in for questioning and then was released. The police then arrested a 46-year-old man who had led the police to the scene. Thereafter, another woman, 46, was arrested. The 34-year-old woman was taken in again too.
“All three suspects are expected to make their first appearance in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court, on a charge of murder,” Makhele said.