| 2024/07/04 |
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Media Statement NELSPRUIT – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has been saddened by the discovery of the remains, believed to be that of Junior Mabandla (06) yesterday, Wednesday 03 July 2024. The little boy went missing in Pienaar on 03 June 2024. An 18-year-old man has since been apprehended in connection with the discovery. He is currently receiving medical treatment under Police guard after being reportedly assaulted by some members of the community. According to information, the Police were called to a scene in Pienaar whereby some members of the community gathered and apprehended a man who related to them that he was somehow involved in the disappearance of two children, a three-year-old girl who was sought by her family yesterday (03 July 2024) as well as Junior Mabandla who went missing for exactly a month. Upon arrival of the Police, the situation was very tense with a large number of people, which made it a bit hard for the men and women in Blue to maneuver. Eventually, members finally reached a place where it is believed that the little could have been buried. Thereafter members also arrived at the cemetery then found the said man with some injuries. It was during this time when the man was taken to a medical facility for treatment whilst Police were shown a grave where the remains of Junior were kept. Amongst those who attended were members from the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, as well as the Criminal Record Centre (CRC), and not forgetting to mention the Forensic Pathology officials. Junior Mabandla’s family members indicated that the clothes that were recovered together with the remains, were that of their child therefore the remains were collected accordingly by the Forensic Pathology officials. Though the sad man has not yet charged accordingly, the Police are adamant that there could be more that can be discovered through investigation which is underway. It is expected that the body of the three-year-old girl will be exhumed in Pienaar today, Thursday 04 July 2024.
Meanwhile, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi further emphasized that the Police will leave no stone unturned. “We are very much concerned about the incidents that recently occurred in Pienaar. There is definitely something wrong there but we want to assure the public that the Police have taken charge in order to bring stability in the area and we have employed specialized units and we have heightened our visibility in the area to ensure law and order. However, the rule of law remains paramount and we urge members of the public to allow justice to take its course and refrain from vigilantism,” said the General.
Click here for initial media statement.
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