NYANGA residents are shocked after a neighbour was arrested in connection with the murder and kidnapping of Lukhololwam Mkontwana (8).
Police spokesman Captain Frederick Van Wyk said the arrest was made on Thursday, 4 January, after an investigation by cops.
The boy was kidnapped in Nyanga, Cape Town, on 23 September 2022 while playing with other kids, an incident that left the whole kasi shaken.
The accused, Aphiwe Vakele, appeared in the Athlone Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 16 January, after making his appearance on 8 January.
After the court appearance, community policing forum (CPF) secretary Dumisani Qwabe said the makhi was respected in the community, and residents were shocked.
“The suspect is a well-known person in the community and people were so surprised when they saw him in the dock. They never thought it could be him behind this incident since he is a neighbor of Lukhololwam’s family,” said Qwabe.
Kidnappers demanded a ransom of R100 000 from the mother, who worked at a restaurant as a chef at the time of the incident.
ALSO READ: Taximan's 'revenge' claims two lives!
After she failed to pay the ransom, the boy’s body was found six days later abandoned with his hands tied with wires and mouth sealed with tape on a farm in Philippi.
Weziwe Khitha, the aunt of the deceased boy, said they are devastated as a family because the accused watched them search for Lukhololwam while knowing where he was.
She said during the search for the boy, they would receive calls from kidnappers telling them about their movements.
“Even when we go to the police station, they would call and tell us that they know what we were up to during the day."
Nomboniso Vakele, the mother of the accused, was also present at the court.
She said she was equally shocked, like everyone else, that her son was implicated in the murder.
“I haven't spoken to him after his arrest. I still need to talk to him,” said the mother.
The case has been postponed to Friday, 19 January, for bail application.
