The Lingelethu-West man is expected to appear in court soon on charges of rape and murder.
Police of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit (FCS) made the breakthrough yesterday after the child’s paternal grandmother took her to the Khayelitsha Day Hospital.
The woman had been told by her son that the child was not breathing.
When the toddler arrived at hospital, she was already dead.
The little girl had been in the care of her father who requested to see her after recently being released from prison.
Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirms the arrest: “Lingelethu police have arrested a 25-year-old father following the death of his two-year-old daughter who was in his care.
“The toddler was taken to Khayelitsha Day Hospital by the paternal grandmother after she was alerted by the suspect that the child was not breathing.
“She was certified dead on arrival at hospital by the doctor.
“The two-year-old had been in the father’s care after the suspect requested time with the child as he had recently been released from prison.
“The suspect is expected in court soon.”
A week ago, police were called to Mankankaza Street, also in Khayelitsha, where the mutilated body of four-year-old Iyapha Yamile was found in a toilet three blocks away from her home.
She had also been raped.
Four suspects, including a friend of the girl’s father and a neighbour, have since been arrested.