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The man accused of allegedly raping and killing little Uyathandwa Stuurman (5), has been sent to Valkenberg Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
He will appear in court again on Thursday 23 August. This is according to Captain Siya Vukubi of the Khayelitsha police.
Uyathandwa was buried on Sunday. It was a sombre occasion as scores of mourners gathered at her home in Makhaza to pay their last respects.
Her death shocked many people in the area, moreover that her little body was found dumped in an open field, bearing stab wounds, and alleged rape marks.
A seemingly devastated Benjamin Mvula (28), her father, burst into tears during a eulogy about his daughter: “Uyathandwa was a lovable child. Everyone liked her. She was so energetic. It’s so painful, but I am happy with the support that we received from the community. Only God knows why ... I don’t know what to feel right now,” he said, sobbing.
Mvula added that Uyathandwa was a first girl child in his family.
“I have two other young siblings and both are boys. Uyathandwa was the first girl in my family. We never had a sister. So, everyone loved her,” he said.
Speakers described her death as tragic and urged both her families to be strong.
Khayelitsha Development Forum deputy chairperson Thandi Msutu praised the deceased’s families for being strong and not taking the law into their own hands. She further urged the Khayelitsha community to stand together and fight against crime in the area. “As women we need to be united and fight for our rights,” she said.
Msutu urged parents to look after their children and not to leave them with strangers.
Ward 96 councillor Danile Khatshwa said they are mourning together with the bereaved families.
“We understand that it is painful, but they must know that God will never take something away from you without the intention to replace it with something much better. Maybe Uyathandwa’s death will change her family and Khayelitsha as a whole to be a better place,” said Khatshwa.
