The community of Ngudeni, Mkhuze in the far northern KwaZulu Natal, is devastated after a father in his 30s killed his daughter and buried her in shallow grave. Nothando Hlatshwayo (13) was last seen on Thursday after she had received a good beating from her father who accused her of dating an older boy from the same area.

KILLER FATHER

According to a cop who has no authority to speak to the media, Nothando was killed by her father for being in love. "What we have gathered is that Nothando went missing  for three days when neighbours started enquiring about her whereabouts especially because her friends had not seen her at school either. That's when her 11-year-old sister told the neighbours that she last saw her when their father was beating her, accusing her of having a boyfriend," the cop said.

SHOVEL

The police source further said, "One neighbour decided to call community members after they had seen the father carrying a shovel from the pit toilet. "The father was seen carrying a shovel on the day that his daughter went missing. It's a shame that a father can kill his own daughter just because she had found love. She was suppose to sit her down and advise her against dating as there are teenage pregnancies and chronic diseases." The source further said it later emerged that the father had buried the 14-year-old girl in a pit toilet after he accidentally killed her. Nothando's body was discovered on Saturday and the father was arrested in front of community members who wanted to take the law into their own hands.

CONFIRMATION

Police KZN spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed the incident. "Police in Mkhuze are investigating a case of murder following the discovery of a decomposing body of a 14-year-old girl who reportedly went missing on 23 January 2023. He body was found in a shallow grave on 5 February 2023. Subsequent police investigations led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man on the same day. He has already appeared before the Ubombo Magistrates Court on a charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.

FAMILY WANTS ANSWERS

Speaking to ZiMoja, Nothando's aunt Amo Ndlanzi said that she wished this was a dream. "I'm defeated. I have never imagined that Nothando could be no more so soon. She had a bright future ahead of her and she was very smart at school. I can't stomach the pain of never seeing my lovely sister's daughter ever again. She looked like me and people used to say she was my younger sister just because we were very close. I am so hurt and I have never felt pain like this ever since I was born. I so wish the court could sentence him to life in prison," said Ndlazi. Ndlazi further said that they want answers as to why he killed his daughter since they were very close and he is the one who raised her since she was two years old.

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