Gauteng’s Cry for Justice: Families Torn by Child Kidnappings and Brutal Murders

As communities observe Child Protection Month, Gauteng is reeling from a fresh wave of horror that’s left families heartbroken and the public demanding answers.

Little Omphile Vanishes in the Night

In the small township of Ratanda, Heidelberg, the Sebiloane family is clinging to hope that their eight-year-old daughter, Omphile, will return home safely. The Grade 2C learner from Shalimar Ridge Primary was allegedly snatched from her home earlier this week, sending shockwaves through the community.

She was last seen wearing a pink tracksuit, maroon top, black jacket and pyjamas underneath—a haunting description that’s now circulating through WhatsApp groups, social media, and neighbourhood watch networks.

Her mother, Anna Sebiloane, and other family members are pleading with anyone who has information to come forward. Two numbers have been circulated for tip-offs: Evelyn Ntoka at 060 819 7345 and Anna herself at 073 852 5188.

A Community Still Mourning Lukhona

While the Sebiloane family holds on to hope, another family is mourning the unimaginable. Just days ago, the mutilated body of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose was discovered in an open field near Durban Deep. The Grade 8 pupil from Ikusasalethu Secondary School had been missing since Sunday.

She was last seen with friends. By Monday, a passerby stumbled across her body—dumped under a shrub, desecrated beyond recognition. Police say it was an “intense and collaborative” search involving family members, law enforcement, and residents that led to the discovery.

Investigators Suspect Hate or Muthi Motive

In a chilling update, Deputy Police Minister Dr Polly Boshielo confirmed that a specialised task team and the SAPS occult unit are investigating Lukhona’s murder. Two disturbing motives are being explored: a possible hate crime targeting her identity or the harvesting of body parts for muthi—a practice where body parts are used in traditional medicine.

“The violence against children and women in this country can no longer be treated as normal,” Boshielo said. “We are dealing with a national crisis.”

A Mother’s Betrayal Shocks the Nation

Just as communities try to digest the horror of Lukhona’s killing, another case has left the nation stunned. In Vanderbijlpark, a woman allegedly sold her two-year-old son to a sangoma for R75,000.

Keneilwe Shalaba, the boy’s mother, initially claimed he had been kidnapped in November last year. But she was arrested just three days later after confessing to the unthinkable—selling her own child because she was unhappy with his gender. The sangoma, Sebokoana Khoanyana, was also arrested. The child’s body was later found buried in a shallow grave.

A Country in Crisis, Children in Peril

South Africa has long struggled with child protection, but this dark chapter is hitting especially hard during what is supposed to be a month dedicated to awareness and advocacy. Instead, families are grieving, and communities are gripped with fear.

Social media is ablaze with heartbreak and fury. Hashtags like #JusticeForLukhona and #BringOmphileHome are trending, and citizens are demanding that government officials turn outrage into action.

For many, these cases aren’t isolated tragedies—they’re symptoms of a deeper rot: gender-based violence, poverty, lack of mental health support, and dangerous traditional beliefs going unchecked.

As one X user put it, “If Child Protection Month can’t protect our kids, what hope do we have?”

If you have any information about Omphile Sebiloane’s disappearance, please contact your nearest police station immediately. Every tip matters. And if you suspect child abuse or trafficking in your area, speak up—before another name becomes a hashtag.

{Source: The Citizen}

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