A community search for a missing child in Limpopo ended in heartbreak when the decomposing body of a four‑year‑old girl was found on Saturday afternoon in bushes near Thabeng Dam in Lemondokop village, Mopani district.
What happened
- The search began after the child and a 63‑year‑old woman, identified as Violet Maswanganyi, were reported missing.
- Police and community members combed the area; Maswanganyi — described by police as a mental‑health patient from Itieleng village — was found alive.
- The child’s body was discovered in a decomposed state in nearby bushes during the operation.
- An inquest docket has been opened as police investigate the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Official response
- Limpopo provincial police commissioner Lt‑Gen Thembi Hadebe said authorities were “shocked and saddened” and pledged to do everything possible to obtain justice for the family.
- Police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the discovery and that investigations are under way.
Next steps
- Police will continue investigative work, including forensic examinations and interviews, to establish how the child died and whether any criminal charges should follow.
- The community and family have been notified; investigators have opened avenues for further leads and evidence collection.
