Just 24 hours after a man allegedly negotiated with cops where he left the two-year-old son of his girlfriend’s cousin, cops have dug up his little boy.
The body of Oyingcwele Zokufa was found just after 5pm on Thursday, August 30, buried in a shallow grave along the N2 near the Mission Station in Philippi.
It is believed the suspect, the boyfriend of the child's mother's cousin, allegedly led cops to where he had apparently buried the child. The suspect is expected to make an appearance in the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of abduction and murder.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana explains: "Western Cape: Members from Nyanga FCS have opened a case of abduction and murder after a body of yet to be identified child was discovered in a shallow grave in the bushes near the N2 on Thursday.
"Cases of abduction and murder are under investigation. A 32-year old man was arrested and once he has been charged he will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ court"
Earlier on Thursday, Siphesihle Zokufa, the mother of little Oyingcwele Zokufa said cops fetched the suspect in Strand on Wednesday and took him to shack in Philippi where he was supposed to “point out” where the child was.
The family now claimed that the suspect has become a fugitive, hiding from police and the relatives.
“The police went to fetch him in Strand to negotiate with him and they took him to shacks in Philippi so he could show them where the child is but he, that is in New Rest, but when they got there, he said he doesn't remember anymore,” said the mother.
“He is now a fugitive hiding from the police, maybe in the bushes.”
Oyingcwele went missing on Sunday, August 26 in Govan Mbeki, Philippi.
Siphesihle told the Daily Voice earlier this week she had interfered in argument between her cousin and the suspect after he had apparently smashed up items inside the cousins’ home.
She said the suspect left the house and that the child apparently followed him and has not been seen since then.