The investigation into the brutal death of 11-year-old Rethabile Molapo from Magogong village in North West has intensified after the discovery of her charred body in an abandoned house in Modutung village.
Story Summary:
- The charred body of 11-year-old Rethabile Molapo was found in an abandoned house in Modutung village, sparking community unrest in Magogong.
- The community took matters into their own hands, killing a woman they accused of being responsible for Rethabile’s disappearance and death.
- Police are expanding their investigation amid accusations of foul play due to the delayed reporting of the girl’s disappearance and mounting community tension.
What happened to Rethabile Molapo? – Here’s what we know
The North West police are under immense pressure from the community, who are outraged at the slow pace of the investigation and the delayed search for the missing girl.
Rethabile was reported missing three days after she was last seen alive on Sunday, 13 October 2024.
According to police, her family only alerted authorities after realising that she had not returned from fetching a church garment.
By the time her body was discovered, tensions had already erupted in the community, leading to accusations and the mob killing of a woman, Omphile Mothusiemang-Legodu, who had been falsely accused of being involved in the child’s disappearance.
The community’s frustration with the handling of the case has escalated into violent protests, with homes and property being torched in retaliation.
North West MEC for Community Safety, Wessels Morweng, has called for calm, condemning the acts of vigilantism and urging the community to allow police to do their work.
He assured that all leads were being followed and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
“No arrests have been made, and we urge residents to let the investigation run its course,” Morweng stated.
The North West police, led by Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, have confirmed that they are expanding the investigation, now considering foul play due to the suspicious circumstances around the late reporting of Rethabile’s disappearance.
The case is further complicated by the community’s history of missing children, as expressed by local leader Kenneth Jampane, who pointed out that this incident has triggered deep-seated anxieties.
“Every year, a child disappears, and it shakes us to the core,” Jampane said.
In response to the escalating violence and unrest, police presence in the area has been increased to prevent further retaliation.
The situation in Magogong remains tense as the community continues to demand justice for Rethabile.
