According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a KZN pastor and his wife were arrested for the ill-treatment of a 10-year-old girl that is believed to be in their care.
The child was first reported missing at the Hlobane police station on the evening of Monday, 20 July. According to the Pastor and his wife, who is listed as the girl’s guardians, the girl went missing after she was left alone at home.
“Following further investigation, the missing girl was found hiding inside a wardrobe within the house. Police investigations established that the little girl was hiding inside the house due to being ill-treated by her guardians who would lock her inside the house and deprive her of food,” the SAPS statement reads.
Colonel Thembeka Mbele says that the two suspects, aged 61 and 63, were arrested and a case of ill-treatment of a child has been opened for further investigation.
The couple is expected to appear in the Hlobane Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 23 July.
