Missing five-year-old girl found dead, eyes gouged out

Authorities said on Monday that the body of a five -year - old girl was discovered in Cape Town over the weekend .

According to the Western Cape Provincial Department of Social Development , the child , from Strand in Cape Town , went missing on Saturday , but her body was found the following day , with her eyes gouged out.

The social department added that her death was reminiscent of another recent case of the murder of 33 -year -old Unathi Booi .

Unathi ’ s body was also found , with the eyes gouged out in Langa , Cape Town .

Also in Cape Town in May , the body of a three - year -old girl was found in an open field .

The girl was believed to have been raped and killed by a man who lived with her family as a tenant for two years .

This followed separate gruesome killings of women and children in some parts of South Africa recently .

“Violence against women and children is completely unacceptable . This cannot be the new norm, ” said Albert Fritz , Social Development Minister in the Western Cape .

Fritz appealed to the South African Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation, and to make arrests as soon as possible .

He also appealed to members of the community with any information that can assist .

Over the past two months , almost 20 female killings have taken place in South Africa , shocking the nation that has already been plagued by rampant crimes .

On several occasions , President Jacob Zuma has urged the nation to unite against the killing and attacks on women and children .
South Africa has among the highest rates in the world for the rape and murder of women.

According to the South African Medical Research Council , 56 per cent of female killings are committed by intimate partners.

The government has declared violence against women and children as a priority crime and set up a 24 -hour Gender Based Violence Command Centre hotline intended for victims to report attacks , including those by family members or partners.

( Xinhua / NAN )