MOPANI – The police in the Lulekani area of the Mopani district are investigating a case of murder, following the death of a three-year-old girl.

The incident took place at Humulani Village last Sunday morning at about 01:00. According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani Area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, it is alleged that the suspect was engaged in a heated debate with his wife the night before the incident.

The centre of the argument could not be established. During the argument, the statement reads, the suspect started to assault every member of his family with various objects. The attacked family members ran away, fearing for their lives.

A three-year-old girl was left behind when the other family members dispersed. The suspect then allegedly throttled the lone girl to death. The girl was identified as Thandiwe Mhlanga.

The suspect was arrested later that afternoon. He was still to appear in the Lulekani Magistrate's Court at the time of going to press.

* In a separate incident, a man had raped a 22-year-old woman, who is mentally ill.

The incident took place at the Dakari village near Malamulele Township on Sunday morning, at about 01:00. According to the police statement, the victim and her mother were fast asleep when the man broke into the house and grabbed the victim.

He pulled her outside the house, where he repeatedly raped her. The statement indicates that the victim's mother is also a psychiatric patient. The victim and her mother managed to identify the man during the ordeal. He was still at large at the time of going to press, despite the fact that the police knew his identity. The police have appealed to anyone who has information regarding the matter to contact them at Tel: 015-8510999.