A MISSING FATHER FOUND HANGING AT ROTTERDAM VILLAGE

UPDATE : The Police in Hlanganani have opened an inquest following the discovery of the body of a 45-year-old man, identified by his family as Peter Themba Baloyi, at Rotterdam Village on Friday, 26 December 2025.

Baloyi is the father of 15-year-old Xilaveko Suke, whose body was discovered on Thursday, 25 December 2025, inside a one-room house at Rotterdam Village. The teenager had been previously reported missing together with her father.

The 15-year-old girl was reported missing on Monday, 22 December 2025, after she allegedly left home with her father, who was purportedly travelling with her to Giyani. A public appeal was subsequently issued to request assistance from the community in tracing their whereabouts.

On Thursday, 25 December 2025, at around 08:50, police received a report regarding the discovery of a body at the residence of the deceased father at Rotterdam Village. Upon arrival, the victim’s paternal grandmother pointed out the body of the young girl inside the one-room house. Police established that the body was in a partially decomposed state and had a visible stab wound. A murder case was opened for investigation.

Later the same day, at around 18:00, police were further alerted to an incident in which the house of the deceased father was found burned. Police attended the scene and investigations into the arson incident are underway.

On Friday, 26 December 2025, at about 13:30, following intensive investigations, his body was discovered hanging from a tree in nearby bushes at Rotterdam Village. An inquest docket has been opened to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.

Police investigations into both murder and inquest incidents are ongoing.