A man has been arrested for the murder of his nephew, 5, in Madonisi village near Qunu.
The uncle, 26 – whom police confirmed was recently convicted of murdering his father yet released within weeks – has been arrested.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is investigating the release.
The death of little Qhama Nkenkana, in Grade R, has left the community of Madonisi shocked and furious with a criminal justice system they say has failed them.
Mthatha police spokesperson Captain Dineo Koena said Qhama went missing on Tuesday. His charred body was recovered from a burnt house on Wednesday morning.
The victim stayed with his uncle and grandmother, 62.
His body was found at an unoccupied homestead in a burnt rondavel about 200m from his own home.
“His grandmother noticed he was missing,” said Koena.“At about 4am on Wednesday, she saw a house burning nearby but went back to sleep.
“When police combed the scene they stumbled upon the charred body of Qhama.”
She confirmed Qhama’s uncle had been arrested hours after the body was discovered and charged with murder and arson. “He is due to appear in court soon,” she added.
The Dispatch visited the village on Thursday. Residents were in a sombre mood. Many spoke of their anger towards the justice system.
The child’s aunt, Zukiswa Saba, was among those who witnessed the little boy’s burnt body being lifted from the rubble. She said she had taken care of him until he was three years old. His grandmother, who villagers said was taken in for questioning by police on Wednesday, had told her about the missing child.
“She said she heard sounds made by a speech-impaired villager and when she went outside to relieve herself, saw a house in one of the local homesteads was on fire,” she said.
The house owners, who live in Johannesburg, had left the keys with Qhama’s grandmother. “They were basically looking after that homestead at the request of its owners.”
Saba and Nontsikelelo Mshweshwe – one of Qhama’s grandmothers in the village – said they had been informed by the grandmother who stayed with him when she returned from visiting another homestead at 9am on Tuesday that she thought that the youngster had gone to play with friends in the village.
“He never returned that day and we phoned the police on Wednesday morning.”
She said the body was burnt to ashes from the waist down.
A string of what looked like a piece of carpet was allegedly found around his neck.
They said a T-shirt Qhama had been wearing was later found inside his uncle’s room soaked in blood and other fluids. Koena would not comment on this, saying they had found some exhibits which she was not at liberty to speak about as it could jeopardise the case.
Residents of Madonisi described the uncle as a huge threat in the village, saying he had been arrested for killing his own father in September. This was confirmed by the police.
However, he spent only two months in jail. He had threatened many children and women in the village, they added.
Villager Bongeka Mbulawa, 29, said her five-year-old daughter was now refusing to go to school in fear of the man.
Saba said she was once visited by the man – who is her cousin – who told her he was “horny”. She managed to chase him away. “We are so shocked and angry at what has happened to Qhama,” she said.
When approached for comment, Koena confirmed that the suspect had been convicted of his father’s death last year but said police had no clue as why he was released.
She referred that question to the NPA for clarity.
NPA regional spokesman Luxolo Tyali promised to follow up on it when contacted late on Thursday.
Another aunt of Qhama, Linda Mshweshwe, put the blame squarely on the criminal justice system for failing the community of Madonisi...