Moyahabo Mabeba
An innocent child paid the ultimate price in a lovers’ tiff between her mother and her jealous ex-boyfriend who allegedly raped and murdered her in a horrific manner.
Kgothatso Dibakoane, aged 11, was last seen alive on Tuesday afternoon in the company of Mapulaneng Lepheko, her mom’s ex-boyfriend.
The suspect, who was separated from the child’s mother, Mpho Dibakoane, had earlier visited his ex-lover and found her with another man he suspected to be the new man in her life.
“He found me with a man who was electrifying our house and became jealous. He then started acting funny and left without saying goodbye. We never thought that his jealousy could drive him to commit the heinous crime he did,” said Mpho.
Lepheko allegedly persuaded the little girl to follow him to an unknown place where it is believed he raped and strangled her to death.
Following Kgothatso’s mysterious disappearance, community members in Shushemela informal settlement near Praktisier started searching for the missing girl.
Mpho says when she went to Lepheko’s house in Bothashoek to ask him about the whereabouts of her daughter, he denied any knowledge and even assisted them during the search mission.
The girl’s lifeless body was found in the bushes.
She said, “It was a horrific scene that will remain a mental scar for the rest of my life. My daughter’s face was battered and bruised. It is clear that she was killed in an atrocious manner. There was blood all over her face, neck and genitals.”
Mpho is now seeking justice for her daughter.
“I want this evil man to rot in jail. He does not deserve to live with people,” she said.
Phillistas Mashego, Mpho’s neighbour, said children in their village are vulnerable to child molesters.
She said, “We are experiencing frightening incidents in which children are kidnapped and murdered at an alarming rate.”
Meanwhile provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has condemned the incident.
The suspect will appear in the Praktisier Magistrate’s Court on Friday to face a charges of murder and rape.
