News24.com | Cops on hunt for killers of two Soweto boys whose mutilated bodies were found in separate locations

The community of Rockville encircled the mourning women, sang songs and prayed.

• Gauteng police are on the hunt for the killers of two Soweto boys.
• Residents spent Wednesday night combing the area in search of the boys after they went missing.
• Their mutilated bodies were found in separate locations on Thursday.

Shocked and angry residents of White City and Rockville in Soweto gathered at two crime scenes on Thursday, calling for justice for two boys whose bodies were found mutilated after they disappeared on Wednesday.

Nqobile Zulu, 5, and his friend Tshiamo Ramanye, 6, disappeared while playing in the streets.

Residents, including patrollers, spent Wednesday night frantically combing the area for the missing boys. Their bodies were found in separate locations on Thursday morning, with some of their body parts missing.

READ | Brutal murder of two boys believed to be for muthi, say police

Gauteng police commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, said he had mobilised police resources to hunt down the culprits. He said the two boys were reported missing at Moroka police station.

"One was discovered in White City while the other was discovered later in Rockville," Mawela added.

Zulu's guardian, Mapiti Shabalala, last saw him on Wednesday afternoon.

"We last saw him after he arrived from school. He came, ate and left to play, as usual. He didn't return home at 17:30 as expected. I then became worried.

Shabalala added:

"We then went to the police station. We informed Nqobile's mother, who said she also hadn't seen him. Residents then became anxious and assisted in the search for the missing boys. His mother returned the following day around 03:30, saying they couldn't be found.

"Nqobile's mother and neighbours spent the night looking for the missing boys. They later gave up and reported them missing at a local police station," said Shabalala.

"On Thursday morning, my daughter called me, saying Tshiamo had been found. We rushed to the place. His body was there. While we were there, local patrollers said they had found the body of another boy. I asked them to describe the clothes he wore. Indeed, those were the clothes Nqobile wore when he disappeared.

"It is difficult. We are in pain. This has hurt us," said a heartbroken Shabalala.

"We don't have money to bury our child. We are destitute and in need of justice."

Ramanye's grandmother, Nqobile Ndlovu, was overcome with emotion and was almost unable to speak.

She called for arrests, saying:

"I understand that arresting the killer will not bring back our children. We need something to hang onto, that the police have done their job," Ndlovu said.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko, and Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited the grieving families on Thursday night.

Lesufi applauded patrollers and residents for assisting the families in finding the boys.

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"What has happened is sickening. It mustn't be tolerated. The perpetrators must be hunted down," he said.

"We are trying to establish the reasons behind this. The community claimed this was not the first case. We have unleashed state resources to assist the police in hunting down those who behaved like this," Lesufi added.

He described the murders as beyond barbaric and heartless.

"This can't be explained, that humans can do what they did to our children. The community has been giving us information. They are offering support and guidance.

"We are deeply hurt and disappointed. We assure the community and families we will do everything to hunt down the perpetrators," Lesufi said.