Scores of residents gathered in Nemato, Port Alfred, on Sunday September 22 as news spread of the shocking discovery of human remains in an isolated area north of Nemato. Meanwhile horrific allegations of the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl in 2017 are circulating in the community.
For the sake of the integrity of the case, and the safety of the people involved, Talk of the Town will limit our report here to the official statement from South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy, which is as follows:
“Police can confirm that on Tuesday 17 September 2024, a 24-year-old woman reported a rape case at Nemato Police station in Port Alfred, where she alleged that she was raped in 2017. During her report, she further mentioned that her assailants also stabbed her cousin sister, who was 13 years old at the time, and then dumped her body inside a municipal drain.
“Subsequent to that report, a recovery operation was launched. Moments later, a crime scene was located near the Kowie River in Port Alfred. It is alleged that from the scene, police managed to find a few bones, and summoned crime scene experts.
“Due to the complexity of this case and the processes that are being conducted, we cannot say much, but just to confirm for now that the bones that were retrieved are human remains. For this case, we have summoned forensic experts as far as the Western Cape to assist with certain expertise. At this stage, we have not effected any arrest, up until we complete certain processes. However, we are confident that someone is going to be held accountable.”
On Sunday, the Port Alfred Crime Forum led a march to the Nemato Police Station, where they handed over a memorandum demanding that arrests be made and justice be done. Accompanying them was Petrus Majola, of Khula Community Development Project, a children’s rights, victim empowerment, and legal support centre.
Speaking to Talk of the Town this week, Majola expressed shock at the find, and at the allegations that accompanied it. Talk of the Town will continue to report on this.
- This article was first published in Talk of the Town, September 26, 2024. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
