Durban – A man has been arrested in connection with a body found buried in a shallow grave at an abandoned house in the Gedleza area, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Friday.

“The 30-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday,” said Major Thulani Zwane. He was expected to appear in the Ubombo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, when he would face a murder charge. More charges could be added, said Zwane. While the KwaZulu-Natal social development department said the body was that of a 14-year-old girl, police said the female could have been older. Social development MEC Weziwe Thusi said her department and the police were still trying to establish the victim’s identity.

“As soon as (she) is identified and her family found, our social workers will be there to provide trauma counselling,” she said.

In a separate incident, two boys, aged nine and 10, were removed from the Mjindi community after they were suspected of having murdered a seven-year-old girl. Police said the girl was reported missing on Monday and her body was found on Tuesday.

“It was believed the boys buried the girl’s body during the day while the elders were out working in the fields, said Thusi. The children were being kept at a child and youth care centre for their own safety. “We have referred them to social workers because according to the Children’s Act, we cannot officially arrest them,” said Zwane.

The police were investigating a case of murder and were awaiting a post mortem which would determine whether the girl was raped. Thusi said her department’s social workers were working with the families involved. “This case is a sad reminder to parents and caregivers to keep an eye on their charges at all times,” she said. Sapa