21-year-old South African young mother raped and murdered; body partly burnt, bottle stuffed in her mouth

A beautiful 21-year-old South African mother, Zanele Sandlana, has been reportedly found among rubbish in an open field in TR Section, Lingelethu West, face down, her clothes removed except for a bra and a shoe on Monday, September 4, with a bottle stuffed in her mouth and her body partly burnt, suggesting she brutally raped before she was murdered in Khayelitsha.

The incident has left her 2-year-old daughter an orphan, as her baby daddy reportedly died last year. Zanele was declared missing after her mum, Nomawethu Sandlana, was informed by her friends that she left the party she attended early.

Police called the mother on Monday night, informing her that a body had been found, fitting the description of her missing daughter. Sandlana identified Zanele’s body at Tygerberg Hospital on Tuesday as Zanele’s sister Amanda who said parts of her body had been burnt, further disclosed that must have been strangled.

Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana, said murder case was still being investigated as 28-year-old man, who police took in for questioning, was released due to lack of evidence.

“The case is in the sensitive stages of investigation, therefore this office is not able to divulge more information on an ongoing investigation,” she said.

Cape Times reports that Zanele’s friend of 10 years, Zahania Tiya, who was with her at the party, said she last saw Zanele before 4am as her friend was leaving the party.

However, she received a text message from Zanele’s mother on Monday morning asking where her daughter was but she did not know.

“All this time I had always thought she had left to go to her home,” said Tiya.

Zanele’s bag, with her personal belongings inside, was still at the party.

“I spent Monday calling most of our friends trying to locate where she was but with no luck,” she said.

Tiya said Zanele’s mother told her she had dreamt of Zanele lying in an open field, strangled, and that is when she became worried.

“She was my light, the best of friends and it’s like I have lost a part of me. It kills me to hear the way she died. I really want justice to be served for my friend. She was someone who liked laughing. I feel like I should not have allowed her to leave,” said Tiya.

Harare Community Policing Forum chairperson Ronnie Busakwe urged community members to assist the police in their investigation.

“If people allow the killer to roam the street, this means he will kill again and next it could be your family members. The law must take its course and leave no stone unturned until the suspect is behind bars,” said Busakwe.

Here are photos of the deceased;