Staff Reporter
Police in the eastern Free State are looking for a man who allegedly snatched a 20-month-old baby and disappeared following a fight with the mother who is his former partner.
The incident took place in Mamafubedu township in Petrus Steyn.
In a statement released on Tuesday, provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the ex-boyfriend, only known as Chepete, disappeared with the child on Sunday night.
“According to the mother, Khorny Mpembe, the ex-boyfriend . . . arrived at her residential place just before midnight on Sunday . . . and demanded (that she opens) the door for him,” Makhele said.
He said when Mpembe went outside to talk to Chepete the man allegedly began assaulting the woman.
“As she went to get help from neighbours, Chepete allegedly took the baby and ran away with her. He has since been on the run with the baby,” Makhele added.
Meanwhile, Bultfontein police in the northern Free State have recovered the body of a 15-year-old girl in a disused building in a public park in Phahameng township in the small farming town.
Reports say the police were called to the scene at about 8am on Tuesday after the body of the teenager, known as Tshepo Diphoko, was discovered by members of the community.
A separate statement said preliminary investigations indicate that she was last seen with her 18-year-old boyfriend a day before her death at his place.
“On closer inspection it was found that the leg of the deceased had finger marks showing that someone was pulling her by force and inflicted bruises. She also had blood stains from the nose,” said the police.
The boyfriend has been taken in for questioning as investigations continue.