Body of eight-year-old Calitzdorp girl found

By Rhodé Marshall
15 February 2008

The body of eight-year-old Charnaine Conradie from Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo has been found. Police spokesperson Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe says the police, South African National Defence Force and the fire department were at the scene searching when her body was discovered early on Friday morning.

“The body was (located) this morning just after 9am. The details so far are a bit sketchy but the body (was) found in a dense bush in the foot of the Rooiberg Mountain,” says Mangqwengqwe.

The 38-year-old man who was taken in for questioning earlier this week is appearing in the Calitzdorp Magistrate’s Court for the alleged abduction and murder of the little girl.

Charmaine Conradie went missing last Friday after she went to play at a dumping site with a friend. Mangqwengqwe says the man was arrested while he was helping with the search of Charmaine.

“He basically acted suspiciously when he was approached by the police. He ran and we chased him, we caught him and detained him for questioning,” says Mangqwengqwe.

Western Cape MEC for Community Safety, Leonard Ramatlakane says communities should remain calm and not take the law into their own hands because of anger that has developed after the body of Charmaine was found.

"This is a barbaric deed and one can only call on the court to ensure that the family of Charmaine will see justice meted out to the perpetrator of this crime," says Ramatlakane.