A 27-year-old man is languishing in a prison cell after he was arrested for killing his five-year-old cousin in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga on Tuesday.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Bushbuckridge magistrate’s court soon.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said law-enforcement officers and paramedics responded to information about the body of a young girl found dumped in the bushes.
“Upon arrival at the scene, they found the lifeless body of the little girl with her throat slit, as well as some stab wounds on her upper body,” said Mohlala.
“She was unfortunately certified dead by the medical personnel on the scene and police opened a murder case.”
The child reportedly left home with a 27-year-old member of the family. When the man returned home from the shop, the girl was nowhere to be seen.
The suspect is said to have informed other family members that the girl went to play with other children in the neighbourhood.
“The family grew worried that something could have happened to the child. They began searching for her until they made the gruesome discovery of her body in the bushes.”
Mohlala said the police are also investigating whether the girl was sexually assaulted.
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