Three men, aged 20 to 22, have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of 17-year-old Koketso Ramahlo in South Africa.
Koketso’s partially burned body was found on a street near her home in Hammanskraal, Gauteng province, on New Year’s Day.
The suspects are set to appear in court on Tuesday, January 7, to face murder charges, according to SAPS district spokesperson Warrant Officer Marinda Austin.
Koketso’s family is still grappling with the shock of her death, unsure whether she had gone out with her boyfriend on the night she was killed.
Her mother, Nkhenthani Ramahlo, was too devastated to speak to the media, but a close family friend, Julia Mkhari, spoke on her behalf.
“The pain she is feeling is tangible, and it deeply affects me as well,” Mkhari shared.
She explained that Koketso had gone out with friends on December 31 to celebrate New Year’s Eve, later returning home to change her clothes before leaving again. She never came back, prompting her family to begin searching for her on January 2.
On January 3, Koketso’s grandmother made the horrifying discovery of her lifeless, partially burned body lying on the street near their home. The body was later confirmed to be that of the missing girl, and relatives noted that she was found naked.
“The family is still in shock, deeply saddened, and never imagined something like this would happen to them,” Mkhari said.
In response to the tragedy, the community held a meeting on Friday to organize a manhunt for the alleged killer.
Community leader Bulo Dinokeng urged residents to remain calm and not take matters into their own hands, despite the widespread anger and outrage over the murder.
“At this point, we don’t know who the perpetrator is, and any speculation about their identity is premature,” he stated.
