Five-year-old raped and strangled to death

A five-year-old girl from Vosman was found raped and strangled to death

A five-year-old girl was found raped and strangled to death yesterday morning, Mpumalanga police said. "The girl, from Vosman, went missing between 9am and 10am this morning. She was never reported missing to police," said Superintendent Izak van Zyl.

He said the girl's parents had assumed that she was playing at a friend's house nearby.

"A taxi driver, who was travelling form Highveld Steel saw her naked body lying next to a railway at 2:30pm...He immediately contacted police who rushed to the scene. She was found bleeding with her private parts mutilated."

He said when police went to report the incident to her parents they were in shock because they thought their daughter was at her friend's house. "A neighbour allegedly saw the child been taken by a man with a black base ball cap pulled low over his face.

"This tragic incident once again indicates that something is terribly wrong in the Vosman Community. Police are pledging for support from the Government and especially the Moral Regeneration Movement to start with programs in the Community, to teach parents basic life skills.

"It is unthinkable that parents allow children as young as five-years-old to wander the streets without responsible adult supervision." He said more than 60 cases of rape was reported at the Vosman Police Station since the beginning of this year. Anyone with information who can assist police to identify the suspect can call investigating officer, Norman Hauzer on 082 375 3342, or Crime Stop on 08600 1011. - Sapa