Missing 6-Year-Old Girl’s Body Found After Ransom Deadline Missed in South Africa

The body of a missing six year-old girl who was abducted last weekend has sadly been found, Mpumalanga police have confirmed.

Noluthando Masango was last seen last week on Saturday when the family held a traditional ceremony. Her grandmother Leah Masango told local media the young girl had mysteriously disappeared after all the children had been put in one room. According to some reports, Noluthando had left the room to watch people who were dancing.

On Monday the family were notified that they had to pay a ransom of R5,000 for the release of their daughter.

Noluthando’s grandmother, Leah told African News Agency (ANA) that her family received a call and text messages about the ransom between Monday and Thursday.

“The call was made to Noluthando’s mother Thoko Masango (28), on Monday from a private number,” said Leah (55).

According to IOL, the little girl’s distraught mother could hear her daughter crying and asking for help in the background. The young mom collapsed after the call and was taken to a clinic where she was treated for high blood pressure.

The family did not have the money to meet the Thursday 13h00 deadline for the release of their daughter, and just yesterday – Friday – they went to the press to plead with whoever abducted her, to bring her home safely.

The grandmother told Daily Sun: “We were having a function for new initiates here at home and all the young kids were locked in one room. One of them asked for a jacket as it was a bit cold and left the room.

“We only noticed she wasn’t with the other kids when they were sent to bed. None of them saw where my granddaughter went or who took her.”

A missing person’s file was opened, but today Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said, “The girl has been found, however, we’re so sad as the community of Mpumalanga that she was found dead.”

According to IOL, the Brigadier said it appeared she had been raped and strangled.

He also said: “I’m not at liberty to divulge any other information about the ransom. Noluthando’s body was found in shallow stream a few metres from her relative’s house where she was last seen.  Kidnapping and murder cases have been opened for investigation. No arrests have been made.”

There has been a “kidnapping spree” in South Africa in recent months – from the kidnapping of wealthy business owners, which appear to be undertaken by highly organised crime syndicates, to ‘copy-cat’ kidnappings by smaller or more amateur groups. Carte Blanche investigated the modus operandi behind the spate of kidnappings in South Africa in a special investigation a few weeks ago (which expats can watch by streaming the show on Showmax here).

Brigadier Hlathi said: “We’re looking for those who committed this atrocious act.”