A teacher is appearing at the Emanguzi Magistrates Court today for the kidnapping and murder of a 12-year-old pupil. It is alleged that on 30 September 2019 at 10:00, Lwazi Andile Tembe left his home in Thengane Reserve to visit a schoolteacher who had asked to assist him with his school work.
At about 14:00, his mother phoned Lwazi but his phone went straight to voicemail. She then contacted the teacher who denied ever inviting Lwazi for a visit or communicating with him.
On 2 October 2019, his mother reported the matter to the police. A case of kidnapping was opened at the Emanguzi police station and transferred to the Jozini Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for investigation.
Following an intensive investigation, evidence emerged linking the teacher to Lwazi’s disappearance.
On Wednesday night the Jozini FCS Unit arrested the 33-year-old teacher for murder and kidnapping. Lwazi’s body was discovered in a shallow grave at a sports field in Emanguzi.
“It’s disheartening when the people who are trusted by our youth are the same people harming them. We believe the law will take its course because there is no one who is above the law. We hope and believe that the suspect will get what he deserves,” said the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula.