Killer confesses to beheading teen boy

A SUSPECT accused of beheading a 13-year-old boy in the Mazimbovu area of Mbazwana handed himself over to police on Tuesday afternoon.

Grade 7 Mazimbovu Primary School pupil Thobane Khambule left home on Saturday night to collect his clothing from a neighbour, but never returned home.

His burnt, headless body was found not far from his home on Sunday morning.

The gruesome discovery was made by two female churchgoers early in the morning, and sent shock waves across the community.

Khambule was living with his 57-year-old grandmother, his uncle, and three cousins.

The deceased's uncle, Sandile Khanyile did not divulge the identity of the person from whom the boy went to fetch clothing before going missing.

‘On Sunday morning, we began our search, during which we were notified of the discovery. His head and private parts were missing,’ said Khanyile.

According to police, on Tuesday afternoon a suspect handed himself over and confessed that he was responsible for the murder.

‘He led the police to one of the homesteads where he had dumped the head. It was found in a pit toilet,’ he said.

Khanyile said it was painful to see the way his nephew was killed.

‘The boy lost his mother in 2013 and his father in 2015. He was doing very well at school. I do not know why this man hated us so much.

‘This man alleges that he was sent by a well-known local pastor to get him a human head, and promised to pay him R3-million for it.

'At this stage, it's not clear whether this is true or not. He told police that he handed himself over after consulting his father,’ Khanyile said.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala confirmed that a 29-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with murder.

‘Police proceeded to an old abandoned house where the head of the victim was found in a pit toilet. A bush knife that was used during the killing was also found by police.

'The motive for the killing remains unclear and the investigation is continuing. The suspect is expected to appear before the Mbazwana Periodical Court today (Thursday) on a charge of murder,’ she said.