- Pethe Simao, 25, has pleaded guilty to murdering and raping Amantle Samane, as well as kidnapping and staying in South Africa illegally.
- The victim’s body was found in the suspect’s shack in Orlando East after a community search, and he will be sentenced on 19 August.
Pethe Simao, 25, stood before the Johannesburg Magistrate Court on 15 August and pleaded guilty to all four charges against him.
He admitted to raping and killing six-year-old Amantle Samane, as well as kidnapping her and breaking the Immigration Act by staying in South Africa illegally.
Judge William Karam found him guilty and will hand down sentencing on 19 August.
Simao arrived in South Africa in April 2022 on a visitor’s visa, which expired the following month. He stayed on without legal papers until his arrest.
On the day Amantle went missing, residents of Orlando East searched from house to house. Her body was found on the concrete floor of Simao’s shack.
By then, Simao had run to a friend’s house in Zola 1, Soweto. Two young girls spotted him at a salon owned by that friend and told their mother, who contacted the authorities.
In an affidavit read by his defence, advocate Ndivhuwo Masindi Simao admitted he took the child from the street, raped her in his shack and strangled her to death.
Family spokesperson Brenda Mjiako said they were relieved he had finally admitted guilt, though the process had been painful.
Simao will stay in custody until sentencing.
Pictured above: Pethe Simao, 25, has pleaded guilty to murdering and raping Amantle Samane
Image source: Palesa Matlala
