A fourth man has been arrested for the rape and murder of 14-year-old schoolgirl Thato Radebe, Soweto police said on Thursday. The 18-year-old was taken into custody in Zola, Soweto, said Captain Lindiwe Mbatha.
Radebe’s body was found in a field in Soweto on Saturday morning. She had been raped, stabbed and stoned to death.
Two of her alleged killers, arrested earlier this week, appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The case against them was postponed until Friday when they will appear in the dock with the 18-year-old. They are in custody.
Another 18-year-old, arrested at the scene of the crime on Saturday, appeared in court on Monday when the case against him was postponed until February 26. He was denied bail.
Radebe will be buried at the Lenasia Cemetery at 9am on Sunday after a 7am funeral service at the Emdeni Junior Secondary school, her aunt Pat Radebe said on Thursday.
Memorial services for the schoolgirl were held at the Bedfordview High School and the Fontana High School on Thursday.
”I don’t have the words to describe it … students were hysterical, they were collapsing and fainting, it was so sad.”
The older Radebe said community members were gathered outside the family’s home on Thursday to show their support. – Sapa