Three stoned to death in South Africa over alleged abduction

An eight-year-old girl was abducted, killed, and her body was dumped in a pit toilet at Senotlelo in Vaalbank, Mpumalanga, South Africa, according to three persons who were allegedly stoned to death for the crime.

Brig Selvy Mohlala, a spokesman for the Mpumalanga police, stated that Nomsa Sambo vanished and her family reported her missing to the Vaalbank police station on February 12.

Local media reported that Nomsa was spotted being carried to a guy's home by a male, and that after she went missing, her body was later discovered in the bathroom.

“Thereafter, information emerged about a man who was allegedly seen carrying Nomsa to his house. Police then responded to the information and on Monday, February 13, 2023, they took him for questioning.

“A kidnapping case was opened in that regard. However, the man denied all the allegations. There was insufficient evidence by then to charge him hence he was later released,” Mohala said.

He claimed that information about the missing child being in a pit latrine first came to light on Saturday morning.

According to the police report, three dead bodies were also found with signs of having been stoned to death, including scars and injuries.

“Police from Vaalbank as well as members from search and rescue team, rushed to the scene and upon arrival, they found (the) lifeless bodies of three individuals, two males and one female on the street.

“The bodies reportedly had serious injuries, which suggest that they could have been stoned and the medical personnel came to the scene as well where they were certified dead. Police also discovered that two vehicles, a Ford Bantam as well as a VW Jetta 4 were burnt to ashes,” IOL reports. 

The infant was eventually retrieved from the pit toilet, according to the police officer, and she was declared dead.

“The three were since identified as Mr Zele Papo Machika, 53, his female friends, Ms Pauline Maubane, 51, as well as their son, Mr Thabo Maubane, 32. The Police later learnt that the torched vehicles belonged to Thabo Maubane.”

He claimed that the case had since been moved from kidnapping to murder and that three counts of murder have been looked into in relation to the three adults who were killed.

“No one has been arrested so far and police are investigating this horrific incident,” it added. 

Source