Police have arrested a 45-year-old man believed to have been the last person seen with 7-year-old Kenisha Thompson before she was raped, murdered and dumped at a local dumpsite in Parkside, KuGompo (formerly East London).
Kenisha, a Grade 2 pupil, disappeared on Saturday while playing with friends in her neighbourhood. Her killing has horrified residents and prompted calls for a thorough investigation and greater vigilance to protect children.
Police have arrested a man in connection with the rape and murder of Kenisha Thompson, 7, from Parkside in KuGompo (East London).
Kenisha had been playing with friends in Parkside on Saturday when she went missing after speaking to an unknown man.
Police said the Grade 2 pupil and her friends had gone to a shop in Second Creek to buy snacks. Her friends left her while she was speaking to the man.
According to investigators, that man is now the prime suspect in a case that has quickly moved from a missing child report to a kidnapping, rape and murder docket.
Kenisha Thompson was found dead at a Parkside dumpsite on Sunday after going missing while playing with friends the day before.
A post-mortem revealed that the Grade 2 pupil was raped and strangled.
A 45-year-old man was arrested and is set to appear in KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, facing charges of kidnapping, rape and murder.
After she failed to return home on Saturday, family members and neighbours launched a frantic search, scouring the area and appealing for any sign of the little girl. Their worst fears were confirmed the following day.
After she failed to return home, a frantic search by concerned residents was launched. Kenisha’s body was discovered at a dumpsite on Sunday, not far from her home.
A post-mortem examination revealed that the little girl had been raped and strangled.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that a suspect was tracked down and detained following intensive follow-up work, including interviews with the children who were with Kenisha before she vanished.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that a 45-year-old suspect had since been arrested.
The man, who is expected to appear in the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, is facing charges of kidnapping, rape and murder.
Gantana outlined how the investigation unfolded, starting from the last known interaction Kenisha had with the man at a local shop.
“The child was last seen playing with friends when an unknown male asked her about her father at a local spaza shop. A missing person case was opened, and search and rescue later located her body,” Gantana said.
“Following further investigation, including witness statements from the children who saw the deceased with the suspect, and a post-mortem confirming rape and strangulation, the suspect was detained on (Tuesday).”
A man believed to have been the last person seen with murdered 7-year-old Kenisha Thompson before she was raped, killed and dumped in KuGompo (formerly East London) has been arrested.
The arrest came as some relief to Kenisha’s grieving family, who have been reeling from the brutality of her death. Speaking on condition of anonymity, her uncle said they welcomed the swift action by police, but are anxious that the investigation must be watertight.
Kenisha’s family said on Thursday that they were happy an arrest had been made.
“We are happy police have put their foot on the ground on this. We are just hoping they have arrested the right person,” Kenisha’s uncle, who asked not to be named, added.
Kenisha’s killing has also drawn the attention of provincial authorities. Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta joined calls for a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding her death, and urged communities to play an active role in safeguarding children.
Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta has called for a thorough investigation into Kenisha’s murder.
“Additionally, I urge community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity that may endanger our children.”
She described Kenisha as “a bright light extinguished far too soon”.
The case has highlighted once again the vulnerability of children who play in open streets and walk to shops in areas where informal dumpsites and open fields provide cover for predators. Kenisha was attacked and her body dumped just streets away from where she lived and played.
Police say they are continuing with investigations and that the suspect’s first appearance in the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday will mark the start of what is likely to be a closely watched case. The man faces three serious charges: kidnapping, rape and murder.
A post-mortem revealed that the Grade 2 pupil was raped and strangled.
For Parkside residents, the arrest is a step towards justice, but it does little to ease the shock of losing a child in such a brutal manner. The fact that Kenisha was last seen in the company of an adult who spoke to her at a spaza shop has prompted renewed warnings to parents and guardians about children being approached by strangers in everyday settings that may appear safe.
Community leaders, meanwhile, are expected to support the family through court appearances and to push for the case to be prioritised. Fanta’s call for vigilance echoes a broader concern about crimes against children in the province, where incidents of rape, murder and abduction have repeatedly made headlines.
As the suspect prepares to appear in the dock, Kenisha’s family faces the painful task of mourning a little girl whose life was cut short.
She described Kenisha as “a bright light extinguished far too soon”.
For now, the community’s hope rests on a thorough investigation, a credible prosecution and a court process that honours that “bright light” with the accountability they believe she deserves.
