Cape Town – The body of a 7-year-old old boy, Shitino van Wyngaard, 7, of Ladismith in the Little Karoo region, was reportedly found burnt beyond recognition in a shallow grave on the Hartmansleegte farm in Hoeko in the early hours of Tuesday this week.
According to EWN, the deceased’s family had last seen him on Friday.
Ladismith police launched a 72-hour investigation, which resulted in the arrest of a 16-year-old boy.
“The station commander of Ladismith, Lt Col Kriel led a multidisciplinary team during the two day’s investigation. Around the clock investigation, spearheaded by the station commander, ensured that sufficient evidence and witness statements could be obtained that linked a 16-year-old suspect to the death of the 7-year-old. Subsequently, the boy was arrested and is currently awaiting assessment by a social worker,” IOL quoted Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie as saying.
ALSO READ: Grisly attack: Man, 31, hacked to death and set alight in suspected witchcraft murder
The tragedy left Ladismith residents devastated.
“Here in town, everywhere people are talking about it. People feel it is a heart-breaking scenario because the child was burnt and buried and people feel that it is not right,” community leader Hartley Booysen said as quoted by EWN.
The teenager was scheduled to appear in Ladismith Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Meanwhile, police have opened a murder case for further investigation and urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Ladismith police.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pexels
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
