Mum: My enemies killed my daughter

"MY daughter was killed like a snake."

Those were the words of Pauline Minki Tyobeka (42), who recently lost her daughter Lerato (19).

The 42-year-old mum from Modikwane in Mooinooi, North West said: "Lerato was brutally killed. Her head was crushed with stones. She was killed like a snake. Her body, which was found naked, was badly bruised."

Lerato was kidnapped outside her home on 2 February and her body was found in the bushes 1km away from her home. She was kidnapped in front of her boyfriend, who was bringing her back home.

According to Pauline, the kidnappers pointed Lerato and her boyfriend with a firearm before kidnapping her.

She said:

"I want a life sentence for my daughter's killers and no bail for them. I want these killers to tell me who sent them to kill my daughter."

She said she has enemies in the area and suspects they are behind her daughter's death.

"I'm in great pain. I sometimes feel the world should open up and swallow me. Lerato was everything to me. It was hard to see her in such a state," she said.

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Pauline said before that fateful day, she had dropped off Lerato at her boyfriend's place on 1 February.

"The thugs demanded R5 000 ransom money from me," she said.

The boyfriend (30) said: "It's very bad. I feel I failed her. I blame myself for what happened."

Lerato's aunt, Busi Nyundu (42) said her death disturbed them. "She was cool and calm, and loved everyone. She didn't deserve to die like that," she said.

Lerato's uncle, Lucky Radebe said her life was cut short and they're distraught and heartbroken.

Family friend Siyamthanda Nombeleko (35) said: "We are in great pain. These thugs wanted to kill Lerato and there's a mastermind out there. Jealous people killed Lerato."

Community leader Jacob Kobe, EFF Ward 31 PR Councillor Mpotokeng Bodigelo and Ward 28 Councillor Shepherd Sithole all condemned the brutal violence against Lerato and called for no bail for the perpetrators.

North West police spokeswoman Colonel Adéle Myburgh said cases of kidnapping, rape and murder were opened.

She said two suspects were arrested on Friday, 14 February and the police seized, among other things, blood-stained clothes, a cellphone, bank card, and identity document at the address of one of the suspects.

The two suspects, aged 29 and 30, appeared in the Brits Magistrates Court on Monday, 17 February and the case was postponed to Friday, 21 February.

North West National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Sivenathi Gunya said the matter was postponed for legal aid.