Soweto schoolgirl (14) raped, murdered
The body of a 14-year-old girl, who went missing in Soweto on Thursday, has been found.
It's understood the grade 9 pupil from Aurora Girls High school went missing after a trip to the shop.
The Gauteng Department of Education’s Steve Mabona says the child's body was found the next day.
“On her return home she realised that she forgot some items, she then went back to the shop and unfortunately she didn’t return home. The family went on a search, unfortunately they couldn’t find her, subsequently she was reported missing at the local police station.
“Sadly, the said learner was found on Friday, raped and brutally murdered in a bush at eMndeni Extension in Soweto.”
MEC Panyaza Lesufi is expected to visit the girl’s home on Monday.
Police Minister Bheki Cele says police stations have been inundated with complaints of gender-based violence since the start of the 21-day national lockdown.
Police have fielded at least 87 000 calls linked to gender-based violence.
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In a statement, the police says the latest crime statistic has not been released and Cele's analysis is yet to undergo verification. "The 2019-2020 national crime statistics are yet to be officially released by the Minister of Police to Parliament at a later stage this year.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) says government must take decisive action against perpetrators.
“Fedusa is concerned about the lack of clarity about the role of courts in the wake of this special crisis,” says Fedusa’s Dorothy Ndhlovu.
“Fedusa wants these new anti-GBV strategies to especially include official assurances that courts will be open for the issuing of the protection orders against perpetrators of domestic violence during the national lock-down.”