NELSPRUIT – A 37-year-old Liswati man, Sanele Fakudze, is facing multiple charges including the murder of a four-year-old girl and attempted murder of her mother following his arrest in KaNyamazane, Mpumalanga on 4 July.
Fakudze, believed to be a friend of the 28-year-old mother, was arrested after police linked him to the disappearance of the woman and her daughter on 27 June. The two were last seen entering his vehicle in KaNyamazane, prompting a missing persons report at the local police station.
The case took a grim turn on 28 June when the mother was found unconscious by the roadside near Kaapmuiden. She had sustained serious injuries and was admitted to hospital. Her identity was later confirmed by police.
Days later, on 3 July, a farmer discovered the child’s partially burned body near Kaapmuiden. Police immediately escalated the investigation, leading to Fakudze’s arrest the following day.
Fakudze made his first appearance at the KaNyamazane Magistrate’s Court on 7 July, where he was charged with child murder, attempted murder, and perjury. He was remanded in custody, with his next court date scheduled for 14 July.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli confirmed the timeline of events and said the investigation was fast-tracked following the discovery of the child’s body.
Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major-General Dr. Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the officers involved and used the occasion to call on victims of gender-based violence not to abandon their cases. He stressed the importance of consistent policing in such matters.
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