S. African police accused of ignoring ritual killings

Tshwane: Even in a country grown accustomed to horrific acts of violence, it is a crime that still shocks.

"Muti [Zulu for medicine] murder," in which human body parts are removed to be used in traditional "medicine," is increasing in South Africa, but victims' families complain that the police too often ignore it.

The murder of four-year-old Connie Ncube, whose mutilated body was discovered in a river near her home east of Tshwane, the city formerly called Pretoria, by her father last month, has sparked a public outcry and demands for tougher action against the gruesome crimes.

Jabu Majola said: "I was shocked to see my daughter that way. It took me 10 minutes to identify her because of the way they cut at her. I couldn't believe someone could do something like this."

Majola condemned the police for not responding to his calls for almost 12 hours after Connie disappeared.

"If they had sent police to search for my daughter when we asked them to, she would be alive today," he said.

It was only after a report of her death appeared in a local newspaper, Majola said, that the police launched a full investigation and eventually identified a suspect, a neighbour with links to traditional "healers," who has not been caught.

According to the South African Council of Churches (SACC), there have been 49 ritual killings in one district of Limpopo province alone since the mid-1980s, including that of a seven-year-old boy, Mulweli Nemadandila, whose mutilated body was found in a stream next to his house last month.

Yet there have been only four arrests, and no convictions in these cases. The SACC is calling for the cases to be re-investigated.

The Reverend Alunamutwe Randi-tsheni, the SACC's district chairman, said: "We're very worried about ritual killing at the moment, but the police seem not to be interested. People have been identified as suspects, so why are the police not arresting them?"

South Africa's occult-related crimes unit, set up in 1992 to investigate muti killings and Satanism, has quietly been disbanded.

Airport Heist
Gunmen rob aircraft in Johannesburg

Gunmen robbed an aircraft at Johannesburg International Airport, police said yesterday. One South African daily said they made off with about $16.5 million (Dh61 million) in cash.

The Sunday Times said the money taken in Saturday's heist was destined for Tanzania and another African country. The South African Airways plane had arrived from London Heathrow.

Police said they did not yet know the exact amount, adding the money stolen was both in rands and dollars and that they would issue more information later yesterday.

Two men gained access to the airport's restricted area and held up police and guards who were carrying the money from the aircraft, Superintendent Vish Naidoo said.

Reuters