TWO Orange Grove teenage girls were found murdered and raped in an informal settlement this week.
The half-naked bodies of Zikhona Mbhalo, 13, and Nokubonga Merile, 15, were discovered near the East London Airport forest. East London police are offering up to R10000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Nokubonga’s body was discovered on Sunday afternoon by a passerby and Zikhona’s body was found on Tuesday afternoon – her 13th birthday.
The two friends were in Grade 6 at Sinomonde Primary School. They were last seen in the informal settlement on Friday night.
Zikhona reportedly went home from school on Friday and then left again at 3pm to visit Nokubonga. The two are said to have met and gone out together.
Nokubonga’s mother, Nandipha Merile, said yesterday she was told on Sunday that her daughter was found in the forest half-naked and with her friend’s pants wrapped around her neck.
Merile had not been worried about her daughter not returning home on Friday as she would sometimes spend the weekend with relatives in Phumlani, a nearby village.
Zikhona’s sister Sisanda took the Saturday Dispatch team to where the body of her younger sister, apparently strangled with her own jersey, was discovered.
The East London dog unit searched on Sunday but could not find the body. On Tuesday, residents organised another search and found the body 100m from the first crime scene.
The girls’ teacher, Zoleka Bishoti, said they were shocked. A number of pupils had received counselling.
The school will hold a memorial service on Wednesday. Bishoti spoke fondly of Nokubonga saying she could have made a career out of her hairdressing skills.
Police spokesman Colonel Mtati Tana said people were taken in for questioning but later released. Anyone with information should call Det- Constable Philile Solwandle on (043)707-0600 or 071-491-7377. –
Teenagers found strangled
The half-naked bodies of Zikhona Mbhalo, 13, and Nokubonga Merile, 15, were discovered near the East London Airport forest. East London police are offering up to R10000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Nokubonga’s body was discovered on Sunday afternoon by a passerby and Zikhona’s body was found on Tuesday afternoon – her 13th birthday.
The two friends were in Grade 6 at Sinomonde Primary School. They were last seen in the informal settlement on Friday night.
Zikhona reportedly went home from school on Friday and then left again at 3pm to visit Nokubonga. The two are said to have met and gone out together.
Nokubonga’s mother, Nandipha Merile, said yesterday she was told on Sunday that her daughter was found in the forest half-naked and with her friend’s pants wrapped around her neck.
Merile had not been worried about her daughter not returning home on Friday as she would sometimes spend the weekend with relatives in Phumlani, a nearby village.
Zikhona’s sister Sisanda took the Saturday Dispatch team to where the body of her younger sister, apparently strangled with her own jersey, was discovered.
The East London dog unit searched on Sunday but could not find the body. On Tuesday, residents organised another search and found the body 100m from the first crime scene.
The girls’ teacher, Zoleka Bishoti, said they were shocked. A number of pupils had received counselling.
The school will hold a memorial service on Wednesday. Bishoti spoke fondly of Nokubonga saying she could have made a career out of her hairdressing skills.
Police spokesman Colonel Mtati Tana said people were taken in for questioning but later released. Anyone with information should call Det- Constable Philile Solwandle on (043)707-0600 or 071-491-7377. –
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