Suspect arrested for rape and murder of Amantle Samane

Amantle Samane

Soweto — Police in Gauteng have arrested a Mozambican national, Pethe Sara Simiao, for the rape and murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane.

Police had launched a nationwide manhunt for Simiao after Samane’s lifeless body was discovered int he suspect’s Orlando home after he had lured her to his house. After committing the terrible crime, he left the lifeless body inside the home and fled, The Citizen reported.

South African Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, confirmed Simiao’s arrest and and said provincial commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni would provide more details.

Mandoza Masanabo, one of the owners of the property where the man lives, said they were shocked and had heard nothing unusual during the incident.

“We were inside our shack. We usually hear when he opens the door but yesterday it was quiet.

“It wasn’t until a group of boys came looking for him that we went to his shack and we saw her body on the floor. We broke the door down with an axe, but she was already dead,” he said.

According to Newzroom Afrika, Mthombeni explained the details of the arrest and explained that he was in the country illegally. Police have also opened a case against th elandlord for harbouring an illegal immigrant.

“We have a breakthrough in terms of that (the suspect) and this particular person is behind bars. One can confirm that he is in this country illegally. He entered this country in 2022,” Mthombeni said.

He dismissed the notion of a passport and said the person was not meant to be in South Africa, no matter what the passport says. He expained the landlord is under investigation now too.

Residents in Soweto have had mixed responses to the arrest of the Simiao. While some have commended the police for the arrest of the police, the damage has been done already but there is some soothing to the people of the community.

“Working with the police, we are grateful because if the community was not working hand-in-hand with the police, we are not where we are where we are on the way to finding justice for Amantle,” a resident said.

Some community members have said however that Simiao’s arrest has brought ittle comfort as they know they would never see the little child again, however the community came together to ensure the suspect was arrested. The taxi community also played a key role in apprehending the suspect.

Another woman has allegedly been accused of withholding information on the whereabouts of Amantle’s killer and the community demanded that she apologise leave, threatening her if she did not, but she denied the allegations.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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