Siphelele Nketo
STRANGE developments in the case of missing Banele Mshubi (3) revealed that he was killed for a lost USB. SAPS in KZN announced a R50 000 reward for anyone who can assist in discovering the remains of the little boy.
Banele was last seen in December last year at his home in the Marikana informal settlement, Kokstad.
But his disappearance was only reported on January 4 by a concerned resident. His case took a sharp curve on February 2 when police arrested Banele’s mother (27) and his stepfather (43). They were both charged for child neglect and failure to report a missing child. However, Banele’s mother was later granted bail and his stepfather denied bail.
According to a police report last weekend, it was said that Banele was beaten to death allegedly by his stepfather over a missing USB.
“The mother told the police that her boyfriend assaulted the child over a missing USB, and she claimed that the stepfather assaulted the child to death but was not sure of where he had buried the body,” police said in a statement. Since the body of Banele has not yet been found, police offered the R50 000 reward to any person who can provide credible information which may lead to the recovery of Banele’s remains.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the investigating officer Detective Constable Vincent on 082 334 8610 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Meanwhile, Banele’s stepfather faces another case of murder in Harding, which occurred in 2022. In addition, he has been charged with another case of attempted murder after he allegedly tried to hang Banele’s mother before the child disappeared.
