Gauteng grade 11 pupil raped and murdered, cousin arrested

A suspect who allegedly raped and murdered a Grade 11 girl learner from Chipa-Tabane Secondary School in Refilwe, Cullinan, Gauteng, handed himself over to police.

The gruesome incident reportedly happened on Sunday, 24 March.

GAUTENG LEARNER ALLEGEDLY RAPED AND MURDERED

According to the Gauteng Department of Education, the learner attended extra classes on Friday, 22 March, and Saturday, 23 March.

Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said that the learner allegedly left the house on Sunday, 24 March 2024, at around 18:00 and did not return. Her mother then filed a missing person’s report with the police that night.

Mabona said upon receiving information that the learner was last seen with her cousin, her family then went to the cousin’s house on Monday, 25 March, to ascertain further details regarding her whereabouts.

“Subsequently, it is alleged that they found the learner’s lifeless body in a room inside the cousin’s house. Police were contacted and arrived at the scene to commence their investigations.

“According to information at our disposal, the learner was allegedly sexually assaulted before being strangled to death,” Mabona explained.

In addition, the suspect handed himself over to police on Monday night. He is expected to appear in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 27 March.

EDUCATION MEC DEVASTATED BY LATEST INCIDENT

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said they are deeply devastated by the learner’s passing through such gruesome circumstances.

“We solemnly sympathise with her beloved family, extending our most sincere condolences to them and the school community at large,” Chiloane said.

VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS PERSISTS

Several similar incidents have been reported in Gauteng schools.

• In July 2023, the body of 16-year-old Mia Kühn, a Grade 10 learner, was found on a rugby field at Hoerskool Garsfontein.
• In May 2023, 17-year-old Palesa Malatji, who attended Ntsako Secondary School in Soshanguve, was brutally raped and murdered on her way home from school.

After attending extra classes, Malatji left school in the afternoon and walked back home. Unfortunately, she did not return home, and her family began searching for her at the school, but to no avail. Her body was found sexually violated a few days later next to Echibini Secondary School in Soshanguve.