File: Police tape
JOHANNESBURG – Three-year-old Banele Mshubi is still missing after five bodies, and a skull, were found between February and August in Kokstad.
The three-year-old was reported missing by a neighbour in January.
Mshubi's parents were apprehended by the police. His mother has turned state witness while the stepfather remains in custody. This case remains the only one with an official arrest as investigations continue for the other cases.
Among the bodies already discovered are seven-year-olds Ndalo Jona, whose body was found with a deep cut on the neck and Lathitha Mtolo whose skull was found.
However, the rest of her body is still missing, and police have offered a R50 000 reward for any information that may assist in locating her.
This is a trauma the victims' families will carry for a long time.
"Only finding Lathitha's body will help us heal", says Mtolo's aunt.
Jona's aunt, Thembisa Mtshizana said as a family, they would never heal.
Jona and Mtolo, both seven, lived metres from each other in the Marikana informal settlement and are also believed to come from the same village on the outskirts of Kokstad.
A woman's body was found on 11 February. The deceased was found floating in a river with an open wound on the side of her body. Some of her body parts are reported to still be missing.
Meanwhile, the body of Okuhle Wattson Nkosiyaphantsi was found on 30 August with multiple stab wounds and an open cut from the neck to the stomach.
The police are yet to make any arrests in these cases.
KZN SAPS Spokesperson, Robert Netshiunda, told eNCA he was only aware of two of the six cases.
The families wait in anticipation as the police continue to investigate, hoping for a chance at some version of peace.