McKeed Kotlolo

McKeed Kotlolo

The case against a 20-year-old man charged with abducting, raping and murdering a four-year-old girl at the weekend was yesterday struck off the court roll.

The man from Avalon in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, was detained on Monday for questioning in connection with the brutal murder of Samukelisiwe Sesi Nkambule whose naked body was found in the veld by a passer-by on Saturday morning.

Superintendent Abie Khoabane yesterday said the man was detained and charged because police were under pressure from the community to arrest him.

"They threatened to kill him if we did not arrest and charge him with murdering of the girl," he said.

Shortly before his court appearance, the prosecution struck the case off the roll because there was nothing linking him to the charges.

Khoabane appealed to members of the community to come forward and make sworn statements so investigations could continue.

He also confirmed that the victim's parents would be charged with child neglect and abuse.

Sesi was last seen alive by her grandmother shortly before midnight on Friday when she was brought home by a neighbour.

Her grandmother put her to bed and went to sleep in another room without locking the door because the girl's parents had not returned from a local tavern. Neighbours found the body in the veld

The girl's mother, Doreen Nkosi, 27, said her daughter would be buried at Phomolong Cemetery on Saturday morning.