Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta has expressed her devastation and outrage over the tragic murder of seven-year-old Kenisha Thompson, whose body was found at a dumpsite near her home in Parkside.
Kenisha’s body was discovered in a dumpsite near her home by police on Sunday, hours after she went missing the day before.
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Her dad, Jason Martin, said he became concerned after returning home and not finding his daughter.
“I went to ask her friends who also did not know where she was and I went to report to the police.
“Kenisha was a young girl with her entire life ahead of her, taken far too soon under horrific circumstances.”
“This incident is not just a loss for her family, but a profound tragedy for our entire community.”
Kenisha was reported missing while playing with her friends, highlighting the urgent need for action against violence targeting kids. The discovery of her body has sent shockwaves through the community.
“This tragedy comes just days after the shocking murder of 30-year-old Zovuyo Mbana, whose burnt body was discovered dumped on the N6.
“Together, these incidents reveal a chilling pattern of violence that cannot be ignored. We are witnessing a crisis that threatens the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable, our children and women,” said Fanta.
Fanta has called for a thorough investigation into Kenisha’s murder and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
“We must ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice swiftly,” she said.
She also emphasised the need for community programmes addressing violence, family support, and child safety education.
“We need to create an environment that nurtures our children and protects them from harm,” she said.
As the community mourns the loss of Kenisha, Fanta has called for collective action to demand justice for her and all victims of gender-based violence and crime.
Police spokeswoman Captain Hazel Mqala said a seven-year-old kid was allegedly playing with her friends when they went to the spaza shop to buy chips.
“While they were at the spaza shop, the deceased was questioned by an unknown man. The other girls left and did not tell her grandmother that they left her,” she said.
Mqala said when the dad questioned the girls about Kenisha, it is then that they told him about the man.
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“He went around looking for her and did not find her. He then went to the police station to open a case of a missing person.”
“When the search and rescue team searched the area, they found her dead in a dumpsite,” she said.
