A couple arrested in connection with the murder of Lilotha Kowa (7) in Khayelitsha last week is expected to appear in the local magistrates’ court tomorrow (1 August).
The pair was arrested on Wednesday 23 July, after a sniffer dog led police to their home in Sindwadwa Street during a search for the missing girl.
Kowa went missing on Tuesday 22 July and her parents reported to the Harare Police Station the same day.
On Wednesday 23 July, members of the integrated team comprising the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), the Dog Unit, Public Order Police Unit (POP), Crime Intelligence and Harare detectives started their investigation, leading to the arrest of the pair.
Provincial police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg said a male and female were arrested in Sindwadwa Street after officers with a sniffer dog started combing the area for clues in the missing girl.
“The biological sniffer dog led the officers to an address in Sindwadwa Street, Kuyasa, where the child was last seen. The dog reacted to blood on the mop and blood stains on the floor of the house which is believed to be that of the child. An adult male and female were arrested in connection with the murder this afternoon (Wednesday 23 July),” said Twigg.
Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that the suspects were in custody until their appearance tomorrow. Following their initial appearance on Friday last week 25 July, Ntabazalila said the matter was remanded for seven days for bail information.
Meanwhile, enraged residents ran amok on Friday and allegedly set on fire a house owned by the suspects. Earlier in the day, irate residents flocked to Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court in Harare to request that the accused be denied bail.
Asked about the incident, Twigg confirmed arson but said no case has been opened with the police. “In response to your media enquiry, kindly be advised that Harare police (are) aware of the incident, however, no criminal case has been registered for investigation yet.”
One of the neighbours, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the house was burnt on Friday evening.
She said she doesn’t know the motive. “I saw the damaged house on Saturday morning (26 July) when I was passing by it. It was damaged. The windows were broken. You could see that it was set alight because there were dark marks on the windows that showed there were flames,” she said. When the City Vision asked her if the incident was not related to the killing of Kowa she quickly responded by saying, “Hayi hayi andazinto.” (No, no, I know nothing). However, she stated that the community does not want the perpetrators in the neighbourhood.
