A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in the Free State province of South Africa as the body of a missing four-year-old girl was discovered.
Reitumetse Madibeng had gone missing on January 6 after being abandoned under a tree by her cousins. The young girl was last seen in the company of her 19 and 20-year-old cousins, who left her behind after she became tired from walking.
The cousins continued their journey to the farming area, leaving the child resting under the tree.
Upon reaching their destination, the cousins informed the child’s mother that they had left her daughter behind. The mother immediately contacted the police, and a search team was assembled. Despite their efforts, the child could not be found. A case of child neglect was opened, and the two cousins were subsequently arrested.
The search for Reitumetse Madibeng continued, with a team comprising of policing units and media houses scouring the Dewetsdorp area.
Tragically, on Thursday, the lifeless body of the four-year-old girl was discovered in the veld near the farm road between Kareelaagte and Deelpan. This devastating finding has now led to a murder investigation.
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The arrested cousins remain in police custody and are expected to apply for bail in the Dewetsdorp Magistrate’s Court on January 17. The police are urging members of the public who may have any information that can help solve the murder case to come forward. They can contact the nearest police station, submit information on the MySAPS App, or call the SAPS Crime Stop number at 086-001-0111.
At this stage, the police do not have an available photo of the child.
