The park at Rockville, Soweto, where the mutilated body of a five-year-old boy was found. (Alaister Russell/TimesLIVE)
Two boys, aged five and six, have been found murdered in Soweto.
“It is disheartening and disgraceful to see such little innocent lives being lost in this hideous manner,” Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela said, announcing he has mobilised resources to find those responsible for the murders.
The children's bodies were discovered early on Thursday by community members at different locations.
One was discovered in White City, while the other was found later in Rockville.
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Members of the forensic pathology team with members of the police investigating the murder of two young boys found mutilated and murdered in Soweto. File image (Alaister Russell)
Members of the forensic pathology team with members of the police conduct their investigation and work to remove a five-year-old child's body in Rockville, Soweto, on April 20 2023 — one of two young boys found mutilated in the morning after having gone missing the day before. (Alaister Russell)
Police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the boys were reported missing on Wednesday evening at Moroka police station.
“A search team involving relevant stakeholders, including search and rescue, was activated. This morning [Thursday] the bodies of the children were found, mutilated.”
Mawela appealed for anyone with information to contact police, saying: “It cannot be that no-one saw or heard nothing.”
Information can be shared via the Crime Stop line at 08600-10111 or the MySAPS app, which can be downloaded on any smartphone. All information will be treated as confidential, police said.
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Distraught members of the community look on as members of the forensic pathology team with members of the police conduct their investigation and work to remove a five-year-old’s body in Rockville, Soweto, on April 20 2023. Two children, aged five and six, where found mutilated in the morning after having gone missing the day before. (Alaister Russell)
Distraught community members and family react as a forensic pathology team remove the body of a six year old in White City, Soweto. Two children, aged five and six, were found mutilated after having gone missing a day earlier. (Alaister Russell)
Distraught members of the community look on as members of the forensic pathology team with members of the police conduct their investigation and work to remove a five-year-old’s body in Rockville. (Alaister Russell)
The mother of a five-year-old child (centre) who’s body was found in a field looks on at a pathology vehicle in Rockville, Soweto, on April 20 2023. Two children, aged five and six, where found mutilated in the morning after having gone missing the day before. (Alaister Russell)
Members of the forensic pathology team with members of the police conduct their investigation and work to remove a five-year-old child's body in Rockville, Soweto, on April 20 2023. (Alaister Russell)
Members of the community look on as members of the forensic pathology team and the police conduct their investigation and work to remove a five-year-old’s body in Rockville, Soweto, on April 20 2023 — one of two young boys found mutilated after going missing the day before. (Alaister Russell)
Earlier, Rockville ward councillor Nompumelelo Mazibuko confirmed the incident to TimesLIVE but said details remained sketchy.
“It was two boys ... both of them were killed and dropped in different areas,” she said. “I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I know one child was found at Moroka Dam with a slit throat. They are still investigating. I don't have the exact details.”
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