Stepfather Arrested After Missing Teen Found Dead in Kinross Shack

The town of Kinross in Mpumalanga has been left reeling after a 17-year-old girl, who had been missing for five days, was found dead inside a locked shack. The shocking discovery was made on May 28, when police forced their way into the home of her stepfather, who is now at the centre of a murder investigation.

What began as a missing person case has turned into something far more disturbing, leaving a family shattered and a community demanding justice.

A Desperate Search Ends in Tragedy

The teenager had last been seen on May 23. As concern for her safety grew, her family urged police to check a shack in Marikana, Extension 33, Kinross. It belonged to her stepfather and had ties to her late mother.

When officers arrived, they found the shack locked from the outside. They broke in and made a horrifying discovery: the girl’s lifeless body was found in a bedroom, showing clear signs of blunt force trauma. Her head had been severely injured, with a deep wound and crushed forehead. A bloodstained pipe wrench was recovered from the scene, believed to be the murder weapon.

It is also suspected that she may have been sexually assaulted before her death.

Tensions in the Home

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the girl and her stepfather had recently clashed. The tension reportedly stemmed from his intention to sell the shack, which had belonged to her late mother. The teenager objected, worried that her younger siblings would be left without a home.

That disagreement may have sparked a confrontation that ended in unimaginable violence.

A Pattern of Violence

As investigations continue, it has come to light that the stepfather was already under police scrutiny for a separate incident — the killing of his 34-year-old girlfriend in the same area. That case remains active, and he is now officially a suspect in both murders.

Police have not released his name, but confirm he is in custody.

This tragedy cuts to the heart of ongoing concerns about gender-based and domestic violence in South Africa. The young victim’s life was taken in a place that should have been safe. Her voice, her hopes, and her future were stolen in a moment of cruelty.

The community of Kinross mourns not only a young life lost but also the grim reminder that women and girls continue to face violence at home — sometimes at the hands of those they trust the most.

Speak Up, Stay Alert, Support Survivors

If you or someone you know is at risk, please speak out. Help is available. No one should have to live in fear. If you suspect abuse or violence, report it. Protecting our children and ensuring justice for victims must remain a priority — not just for law enforcement, but for all of us.

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Sourced:Sowetan Live

Picture: Pexel