MOPANI – The police in the Mopani area are investigating a case of murder and rape, following an incident that took place at the Moromeng settlement in the Arconhoek area last Friday night at about 23:00.

Const Sylvia Hlungwane, the police spokesperson in the area, said that Mr Alfred Malatjie, a 74-year-old pensioner, proceeded to his former lover’s kraal during the night of the incident.

According to the police statement, it is alleged that the woman was drunk when Malatjie arrived. An argument started between Malatjie and his former lover. According to the statement, the centre of the argument was that Malatjie was accusing the woman of not taking care of the children, saying she spent most of her time drunk.

During the argument, Malatjie allegedly took the woman’s 11-year-old daughter, Patricia Mohlala, and left the place with her. That was the last time the little girl was seen alive. Her strangled body was discovered by passersby in the nearby bushes the following morning.

Medical examinations revealed that the girl had been raped before she was strangled. The police received information that the girl was in the company of Malatjie when she was last seen alive. The police then traced Malatjie later that afternoon.

They found him at his Maromeng home. The statement further indicates that, when the police started questioning Malatjie about the girl’s tragic death, he responded by producing a firearm and shooting himself in the head. He died instantly. The police are investigating the matter further.