News
Mozambican National Sentenced to Life for Murder of Six-Year-Old Amantle Samane
A tragic case that shook Soweto
The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has sentenced 25-year-old Pethe Sara Simiao, a Mozambican national, to life imprisonment for the murder and rape of six-year-old Amantle Samane. The case has haunted Soweto since October 2024, when the child went missing while playing outside her home in Orlando East.
Her disappearance sparked a frantic search by neighbours and family, ending in heartbreak when her body was found in a shack two days later. Police later tracked Simiao to a house in Zola, Soweto, where he was arrested.
The court’s decision
Appearing before Judge William Karam, Simiao pleaded guilty to four charges: kidnapping, rape, murder, and contravention of the Immigration Act. He admitted that he strangled the child to cover up the rape, claiming he had been intoxicated.
The court handed down the following:
-
Two years for kidnapping
-
Life imprisonment for murder
-
Life imprisonment for rape
-
Two years for contravening immigration laws
All sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a life sentence.
Judge Karam stressed that while the crime was horrific, it should not lead to blanket resentment against foreign nationals in South Africa. “Many are good and hard-working people seeking a better life,” he said, adding that Simiao’s actions should not taint entire communities.
A mother’s grief
During proceedings, Amantle’s mother, Ntombi, described her pain and said she has struggled to sleep since her daughter’s death. Her grief has led to bitterness towards foreign nationals, and she asked the court for three life sentences to be imposed.
Karam addressed her statement with compassion, recognising her suffering while reminding the court of the need to distinguish between an individual’s crime and the broader immigrant community.
Wider conversations
This case has struck a deep chord in Johannesburg and beyond. On social media, calls for justice have been echoed by anger over violence against children and renewed debates about migration and crime. For many, the story represents both personal tragedy and national tension: a reminder of South Africa’s vulnerability to gender-based violence and the strained relationship between communities and foreign nationals.
Simiao entered South Africa illegally in 2022 with a Mozambican passport set to expire in 2027. His disregard for immigration law added to the anger, reinforcing long-standing concerns about border management.
Justice, but no closure
For Ntombi and her family, the sentence is unlikely to ease the pain of losing Amantle. For South Africans, the case underlines a grim reality: the ongoing need to protect vulnerable children, hold perpetrators accountable, and resist letting one man’s crime define entire communities.
Also read: “Stay in Your Lane,” Police Minister Warned Amid Political Killings Task Team Row
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Facebook/JOZI FM NEWS
