SAPS engages Interpol over hunt for Amantle Samane’s alleged killer
Police gave an update to Orlando East residents in Soweto after dozens marched on the local police station following the rape and murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane.
On Tuesday, police released a picture of a Mozambican national, Pethe Sara Simiao, who was the last person that was seen with the child before her lifeless body was discovered in a rented backroom.
According to the police, residents have since handed over at least eight people who were linked to the suspect.
“There was some confusion that these people were also linked to the case, but we want to make it clear that those people are not linked to the case. They were arrested as illegal immigrants. It’s only one person that we are looking for, we’ve got his photo, and he’s a Mozambican national,” confirmed police spokesperson Mavela Masondo.
READ: Amantle Samane's mother details harrowing discovery of lifeless body
Police in Soweto earlier whisked away a man after angry residents pushed him for answers about the suspect’s whereabouts.
An immigration status check with the Home Affairs Department revealed Simiao was also living illegally in South Africa.
The police’s hopes of tracking the suspect via his cell phone were scuppered when his girlfriend revealed he did not own a mobile phone.
He, however, reportedly called her and told her he was going back home.
Masondo said the South African Police Service was working together with their Mozambican counterparts, and Interpol had also been notified.
“Since investigations revealed that this person is not a South African, we suspect that he might escape or go to his country of origin. That’s when we decided that we need to engage Interpol and Border Management in case he goes out of the country.”
[JUST IN] Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo has confirmed a warrant of arrest has been issued for the sole suspect linked to the rape &murder of #AmantleSamane. Masondo confirms the SAPS is communicating with Interpol because the suspect is from Mozambique pic.twitter.com/T2znnyiMWb
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 23, 2024
Police have the suspect’s passport, which indicates that he last officially left South Africa through the correct channels in 2022.
Meanwhile, Orlando police station commander Nonhanhla Kubheka pleaded with community members to ensure that the people they bring into their homes as tenants have the relevant identity documents and, if they are foreign nationals, that they have valid immigration documents.
Community leaders pleaded with members of the public to work together with the police and refrain from circulating false information that may jeopardise investigations.
