AN uncle was arrested in the Eastern Cape for the murder of his five-year-old niece.
The 43-year-old is accused of killing the girl with a spade at Kwanonqubela in Alexandria on Saturday, 3 December.
According to police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu, Siphenathi Xhali was taken during the early hours of Saturday from the neighbour’s house. It is alleged the child’s mother had dropped her off at around 2pm on Friday, 2 December, at her father’s house in the same area. The father, in turn, left the child at the neighbour’s house.
“Police were alerted by the suspect of a person being assaulted at his house around 6am on Saturday. When police arrived on the scene in Pendu Street in Kwanonqubela they found the brutally battered body of a five-year-old girl lying on the lounge floor,” she said.
“She had multiple wounds to the body. The suspect was drunk and incoherent to give an account of what had happened to the victim. It is suspected Siphenathi was murdered with a spade which was later found in a neighbour’s yard. It is also suspected the child may have been raped.
“The suspect is detained on a charge of murder and is expected to appear in the Kenton-On-Sea Magistrates Court early next week. Pending the results of the postmortem report, an additional charge of rape may be added,” said Naidu.
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene condemned the brutal murder of Siphenathi and stated that gender-based violence was extremely concerning.
“It is alarming that communities fail to protect children. Many are killed by the people they know, love and trust. These people are cruel and heartless and must be dealt with decisively especially when it comes to women and children. Such tragedy is extremely disturbing especially when the country is commemorating 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children,” she said.
