Johannesburg – The killing of a 10-year-old boy in the Ramaphosa informal settlement, on the East Rand, is devastating, Ekurhuleni Mayor Mondli Gungubele said on Wednesday.

“This is shocking,” Gungubele said in a statement.

“As a parent myself, I cannot even begin to think what the parents are going through right now,” he said.

“In fact, as I got the gory details of the incident, I felt shivers going down my spine wondering how another person can carry out such a brutal attack on a helpless boy.”

He urged parents to be more vigilant about their children’s whereabouts and said the community should help the police to find those responsible.

Siphamandla Madikane was reported missing on Monday at the Reiger Park police station.

His body was discovered that afternoon by a passer-by in a field in Ramaphosa.

He was last seen on Sunday evening with friends.

“The boy was found dead with socks stuffed in his mouth and a used condom was found next to his body,” said police spokesperson Tsekiso Mofokeng.

“The body matched the description of the boy, who was reported missing earlier on Monday.”

A case of rape and murder had been opened. No arrests had been made.

– SAPA