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Mother of Amantle Samane Begs Court for Justice as Sentencing Nears
The Johannesburg High Court fell silent this week as the mother of six-year-old Amantle Samane shared her heartbreak ahead of the sentencing of her daughter’s killer.
Amantle’s life was cut short in October 2024 when she was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by 25-year-old Mozambican national Pethe Sara Simao. He pleaded guilty last Friday to all charges, including contravening the Immigration Act, and will be sentenced on 1 September.
‘I Cannot Sleep’
In a deeply emotional statement, Amantle’s mother, Ntombi Samane, told the court she has not been able to sleep since her daughter’s brutal death. “When I wake up during the night, I relive the pain and remember everything that happened,” she said.
Her daughter was her lastborn child. She would have turned seven this week. Instead of celebrating a birthday, Ntombi is left struggling with grief, prayer, and a household torn apart. She admitted she no longer feels the strength to send her children to Sunday school, fearing it reminds them of their sister. Judge William Karam encouraged her to continue, saying, “With God, all things are possible.”
The Case Against Simao
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Amantle was last seen playing outside her Orlando East home. A witness noticed her walking with Simao, whom he knew was not related to her, and raised the alarm. Community members helped search, only to find her lifeless, half-naked body in a shack.
Simao admitted he strangled her to cover up the rape. His lawyer argued that his guilty plea was a sign of remorse, but prosecutors disagreed. Advocate Zamikhaya Staffa told the court that pleading guilty alone was not enough. “He saw his target in a six-year-old child and had every chance to change his mind, but he chose to commit the crime,” Staffa said.
A Mother’s Wish for Three Life Sentences
In her testimony, Ntombi said she wanted the court to impose three life sentences, one for each of Simao’s crimes: kidnapping, rape, and murder.
Prosecutors are calling for the maximum penalty, saying the crime was deliberate and calculated. Sentencing is scheduled for 1 September.
For the Samane family, no sentence will bring their little girl back. But in the words of her mother, justice is the only hope left for a life that ended far too soon.
Also read: Eldorado Park Mourns Baby Nikita as Calls Grow to End Child Abuse
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: idfi.ge
