NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of South African Police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has called on community members to be more vigilant with their children. The General’s plea emanates from recent incidents involving children which occured at Mmametlake and Emzinoni respectively.
On the Mmametlake incident, which occured on Saturday, 20 June 2020 at, a two-year-old girl succumbed to injuries after being hit by a car reportedly driven by her mother.
According to the report, the 42-year-old mother started her vehicle in an attempt to move it out the garage and bumped the child. Upon hearing a thumping sound she stopped the car to investigate and found her child lying motionless nearby.
Medical personnel as well as the police were summoned but the toddler was unfortunately certified dead at the scene. A case of Culpable Homicide was opened and is being investigated.
Meanwhile, on Friday, 19 June 2020, two-year-old, Siphumelele Thulani Ndhlovu from Extention 5 at Emzinoni was reported missing by his 37-year-old mother. According to the information, on that fateful day Siphumelele went out to play, while his mother was taking a bath.
Moments later she grew concerned when she did not see Siphumelele and she began to look for him with the assistance of her neighbours but with no success. The mother then reported the matter to the police and a missing person’s case was opened immediately and is currently being investigated by the police’s Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
Lieutenant General Zuma has urged parents and care-givers to take extraordinary precautions to ensure the safety of their children so as to avoid tragic incidents.
Anyone with information that will assist police find Siphumele Thulani Ndhlovu or may know of his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Tumisho Molobela on 076 163 1287 or SAPS Emzinoni on 017 647 9665. Alternatively members of the community can call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. A tip-off can also be given on the MySAPSAPP which can be downloaded onto any smartphone. Information can be given anonymously.

Source: South African Police Service