‘We want to know where Bokgabo’s other body parts are'

The father of four-year-old Bokgabo Poo on Monday tried to accost the man suspected of her murder in the dock at the Benoni magistrate’s court.

Ntokozo Zikhale is accused of kidnapping, rape, murder, defeating the ends of justice and violation of a corpse.

Police were on high alert before the court proceedings.

The courtroom was tense, with family members having to assist the court in deciding who could be present.  While state prosecutor Chantelle Williams was speaking, Bokgabo’s father, Irvin Ndlovu, became emotional, jumped up and tried to reach the accused, prompting law enforcement officers to intervene and court to abruptly adjourn.

He shouted “you killed my daughter”, while people in the public gallery repeatedly called the accused “Satan”.

The defence lawyer immediately withdrew from the case.

Asking not to be named, he said: “I have to look after myself. I don’t get involved in stuff like this.”

Protesters demanding justice for Bokgabo Poo gathered outside the Benoni magistrate’s court on Monday.

The child from Wattville in Ekurhuleni was reported missing last Monday.

Police were joined by community members to search for the man who was last seen with her.

On Tuesday, her mutilated body was found. DNA tests were ordered, and her family identified her from a missing tooth and a birthmark on her chest.

Her aunt Lebo Mokgako said the family was grateful for support from community members and the public, but was struggling to come to terms with her cruel death.

“We want to know why. We’re not coping because what happened is inhumane. How can you mutilate and kill a four-year-old? There are parts of her body we did not find. Her eyes are not there, hands cut, lower body separated, her left hand is missing. What kind of a sick animal does that?”

Her stepfather Johannes Sibiya said: “We don’t have a way forward. We are not coping.

“We want to put pressure [on her alleged killer] so her other parts are found and justice is done. How will we conduct a funeral with some parts of her missing?”

Vuyo Mbeki, a community leader from Wattville, said the crowd was at court to support Poo’s family.

“We’re here to find out what happened. It’s only the beginning but we plan to be here until the end. We want to see justice."

He said when they heard she was missing on Monday, they activated searches with members of the community policing forum and community patrollers.

“The following day we discovered a leg. Two hours later we discovered half a body of the child. That in itself is disturbing because we couldn’t identify her immediately. Her body seemed like it was poured with acid, especially on the head,” Mbeki said.

“The trauma of not being able to identify the child is a pain for all of us. Only her mother could identify the child.”

The suspect, 30, was arrested on Friday in Boksburg. He was seen in CCTV footage walking alongside Bokgabo on the day she disappeared.