KwaZulu-Natal Police, shocked by the gruesome murder of a 13-year-old boy, have arrested a suspect and confiscated a machete believed to be the murder weapon.
The The child was decapitated and his body was partially burned.
Lt. Col. Nqobile Gwala said Thobani Khambule was last seen on May 28. His body was found the next day in the bushes in the Mtanenkosi area of Mbazwana.
“Mbazwana police officers worked around the clock to identify and arrest the perpetrator.”
A 29-year-old man was arrested for questioning on May 31 after police received reports he was last seen with the victim. Police then inspected an old abandoned house where the victim’s head was found in a pit toilet. A machete believed to have been used in the murder was also found by police. “The motive for the murder remains unclear and the investigation is ongoing,” Gwala said. The suspect will appear before the Mbazwana Periodic Court on Thursday for murder. Gwala said: “It is heartbreaking to learn that an innocent child has been killed in such a brutal way as we celebrate child week of protection. We call on communities to play a more important role in protecting our children.” The public is also urged to report any form of child abuse to the police or social workers. < em >Support independent journalism by subscribing to theSunday Times. Only 20 R for the first month.
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