By Phumlani Saul
A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of eight-year-old girl, Veronique May, whose lifeless body was found on Monday in Kariega.
“I can only imagine how she must’ve called for me and her uncle when she was going through what she did.”
These were the words of a grieving grandmother from Kariega, whose first granddaughter’s life was cut short at the weekend.
The family of an eight-year-old girl from Kariega are reeling after their “sunflower-child’s” body was found at a house not too far from where they live.
May’s mother, Destiny, was inconsolable on Tuesday as she described her only and oldest daughter.
“My child was a soft-spoken girl who would not even hurt a fly. She was a lovely child and absolutely loved going to school.”
However, she wants to know the reason for the death of her daughter.
“What was going through his head?” she said as she cried uncontrollably.
She also said she believes that Veronique trusted the alleged perpetrator because she (Veronique) is friends with his sister, who is her age.
Her grandmother, Margaret, adds that she and her granddaughter were quite close and were in her care when she went missing.
“My boyfriend came to ask me where Veronique was because he heard from the children in the street that she left with a man.”
She says she quickly jumped up and started looking for her, but could not find her.
“A little later, the man who allegedly took her was spotted, and my boyfriend came to ask again if Veronique was back, and I said no and went to look for her again with no luck.”
According to Margaret, she knew that her granddaughter was no longer alive when the police took out the yellow tape to cordon off the house.
“I got her ready for school. Did her hair in the morning and always washed her clothes.”
“To think that I recently bought her a new school tracksuit, that she will never wear again,” she said as she broke down.
Police spokesperson Capt Sandra Janse van Rensburg said preliminary information had revealed that the victim was reported missing by her family to Kamesh police on Sunday after 5pm.
“A search was immediately launched by police.
“Information was obtained regarding the person Veronique was last seen with on Sunday evening.
“SAPS Kamesh found the man and for his own safety from the community he was remove to the police station,” Janse van Rensburg said.
After questioning the suspect on Monday, she said the suspect took the investigating officer to De Booi Street in Langa where they found Veronique’s lifeless body in one of the rooms on the premises.
“The suspect was arrested on charges of murder and will appear in the Kariega magistrate’s court on Wednesday.”
Nelson Mandela Bay district commissioner Maj-Gen Vuyisile Ncata strongly condemned the horrific act and commended the swift response by the investigating team.
“The murder of a child is one of the most heartless crimes imaginable.
“We will ensure that justice is served for this young victim and her family,” Ncata said.
Janse van Rensburg said the SAPS continues to urge communities to protect children and to report any suspicious behaviour immediately to the nearest police station or Crime Stop on 08600-10111.
Daily Kasi News 