Convicted child killer and rapist, Sara Pete Simiao, will hear his fate next week, where the court will sentence him for the rape and murder of six-year-old Amantle Samane in Orlando East during October last year.

The Mozambican national Simiao, 25, pleaded guilty to four charges of kidnapping, rape, murder and contravention of the Immigration Act.

The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division in Johannesburg, convicted him on all counts.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, said State advocates Zamikhaya Staffa and Matshediso Phatlanyane presented the charges in court.

“In his plea, through his counsel, Simiao admitted to all charges. He provided a detailed recounting of the horrific acts he committed, confessing that he was under the influence of alcohol and had strangled the victim to conceal the rape.

“On the day of the incident, the six-year-old’s mother, with the help of the Orlando East community, searched for her missing daughter. A witness, who had earlier seen the child walking with Simiao, who he knew was not a relative, became suspicious and led the community members to a shack where the child’s lifeless, half-naked body was found.

“After an extensive search and investigation, the suspect was located and arrested by police in Zola, Soweto, on 23 October 2024,” said Mjonondwane.

The high court reviewed all aspects of the plea, found him guilty as charged, and adjourned the case to August 19 for sentencing.

Mjonondwane said: “Each of these successful prosecutions is the culmination of months and even years of painstaking investigative and prosecutorial work and exemplifies hundreds of similar cases prosecuted successfully daily.”

Amantle was tragically raped and murdered just a month before her Grade R graduation and the day before her graduation photo session.

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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