Brits: Man charged for murder of ex’s seven-year-old daughter

A 51-year-old man from Kgoabalatsane in Brits, the North West, faces charges after he allegedly kidnapped and subsequently murdered a seven-year-old girl.

The suspect, Benjamin Mokone made an appearance at the Brits Magistrates Court on charges of kidnapping and murder on Tuesday, 29 June 2021. The matter was postponed to 2 July  for attorney instructions.  

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on 22 June 2021 a taxi had dropped the girl off at Letlhabile Mall after school.

Man confesses to killing little girl

The NPA alleges that Benjamin Mokone, who was a former boyfriend of the girl’s mother, then approached the child after she disembarked from the taxi and took her to the bushes in Block H in Letlhabile where he killed her.

“Later in the afternoon when the child wouldn’t return home from school, the mother became very worried and went to report at the police station,” said NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.

“The police went to the spot where the child is usually dropped off at the mall. Fortunately, opposite the drop off spot there is a shop with cctv cameras which captured the incident. Mokone was called to the police station and charged with kidnapping”

NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana

“Her mother, with the assistance of neighbours, searched for her but the search did not yield results. Consequently, the young girl’s mother reported the matter to the police who registered a missing person inquiry on Tuesday night. A thorough police investigations led to questioning and subsequent arrest of Keitumetse’s mother’s ex-boyfriend,” said police spokesperson Colonel Amanda Funani.

“A thorough police investigations led to questioning and subsequent arrest of Keitumetse’s mother’s ex-boyfriend”

Mokone then confessed to the gruesome acts, to the authorities, just a day later. He  subsequently pointed out the child’s body which was found half naked with injuries on the head. It isn’t yet clear as to how he killed the little girl.