The family of 11-year-old Monneashia Prins faced a heartbreaking ordeal on Tuesday as they identified her lifeless body in the morgue.
Monneashia had been reported missing last week and was last seen on Friday afternoon. Her body was discovered on Saturday in the bushes near her home in Ithemba Farms informal settlement, Eerste River.
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The community was unaware of Monneashia’s fate, as her parents believed she was visiting her grandmother in Forest Village.
However, when relatives contacted her grandmother on Saturday night, they were shocked to learn that Monneashia was not there. It was not uncommon for the Grade 4 learner to spend the night at friends’ houses or her grandmother’s, but she would always return home early the next morning.
Growing increasingly concerned, the family filed a missing person’s report with the police on Sunday morning. It was during this time that they received news of a body found in the nearby bushes.
On Tuesday, they made the difficult journey to the mortuary, where they confirmed that the deceased person was indeed Monneashia. The cause of her death is yet to be determined, pending a post-mortem examination.
The local police have launched an inquest investigation into the incident. The body of an unknown child was discovered in a canal near Ithemba Farms on Saturday. The victim was covered in mud and declared deceased at the scene.
The authorities have now confirmed that the body found is that of the missing girl. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.
Neighbours and the community are in shock over the tragic loss of Monneashia. Described as a lovely child with a kind heart, she was always willing to help others. Linda Adams, a neighbour, recalls Monneashia’s last act of kindness when she assisted her with groceries. The news of her murder has left everyone deeply saddened.
The Western Cape Missing Persons Unit assisted in the search efforts for Monneashia. Francois April, a spokesperson for the unit, was notified on Monday about the missing child. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
