THE father of the 12-year-old girl who was found hanging from a tree in a forest at Sinyamantulwa last Thursday has been charged with her murder.
Senzo Dlamini (33) is accused of murdering his daughter, Tibusiso Temagwalagwala ‘Dudlane’ Dlamini, whose body was discovered on Thursday at approximately 2:30pm.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Zwane confirmed that Dlamini was arrested following investigations into the child’s death and appeared in court yesterday. According to Zwane the police initially opened an inquiry docket after the girl was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest.
However, preliminary investigations uncovered information that prompted officers to convert the matter into a murder case. Zwane said the girl had disappeared after leaving a neighbourhood kitchen while on her way home from school last Wednesday.
Her father reportedly reported her missing to local authorities, prompting a search for the child.
Zwane said police investigations into the murder remained ongoing.
Meanwhile, the family stated that the girl would be buried on Saturday. The funeral comes amid an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, which has since been classified as a murder case. Police said the matter was initially registered as an inquiry before being converted into a murder case after preliminary investigations revealed possible foul play. The family had previously appealed for assistance from members of the public to help meet funeral expenses, with Sibhekile explaining that the death had come unexpectedly and that she was the only person employed in the household.
The family is now preparing to bid farewell to a child who had been looking forward to sitting her Grade VII external examinations.
