Five-year-old starves and freezes to death after getting lost in Tsholotsho

Five-year-old Simon Vundla was discovered dead in the bush after he reportedly got lost on his way home. He died from the cold which was experienced throughout the country last weekend. He got lost on Friday and was discovered 20 km away from his home on Saturday after villagers launched a search.  A post-mortem established he died due to cold, dehydration and hunger.

Village head Mr. Johnson Ncube said:

Villagers suspect he may have died because of the intensely cold weather that was experienced in most parts of the country. It is questionable for a five-year-old to walk more than 20KM, especially considering that Simon is said to have complained of hunger and that he felt weak. Maybe he was enticed with food and later killed.

At the borehole, Simon complained of hunger to his sister Sithembiso Khanye who told him to go back home while others remained playing there. When the rest of the family arrived home they discovered that Simon had not come back.

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