Three toddlers who were found murdered in Rosemore, George, may have been killed with a blunt object, Western Cape police said on Friday.
The children were reported missing on Thursday evening. Investigations led police to the arrest of a 16-year-old shepherd, who then pointed out the bodies.
”Two boys, Adnill Pienaar (5) and Jamaine Geduld (3), and a girl, Hendrolene Koetaan (4), were found in a ditch at midnight, on the banks of a river in Bossiesgif where they lived,” said Captain Malcolm Pojie.
He said the children’s bodies were piled on top of each other and hidden in the bushes. They may have been killed with a large rock. He could not say on which part of their bodies they were injured.
”The children were last seen playing together in the Bossiesgif area and their parents reported them missing at 6pm.”
Missing Children South Africa urged parents to know where their children are at all times.
”Parents should also immediately report to the nearest police station if their children are missing. The quicker you give the information to the police, the quicker they can start searching — and the chances of finding the child unharmed are significantly greater,” said the group’s spokesperson Pieter Boshoff.
”We believe the police have done a great job and worked very hard on this case. This is commendable and we thank them for their hard work,” he said.
The 16-year-old is expected to appear in the George Magistrate’s Court on Monday. — Sapa