By Abigail Visagie

The search for three-year-old Katleho Leeuw from Glen outside of Bloemfontein ended in tragedy when her lifeless body was found in the bushes on Saturday afternoon.

Little Katleho went missing on Thursday. She was last seen alive by her mother, Joyce Leeuw, while playing with other children in the backyard of her home, but later on realised that her daughter was overly quiet and immediately reported the little Katleho missing at the Glen Police station.

Captain Jerry Motaung from the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit led the search for two days and at 11:20 am on Saturday, Katleho’s fragile body was found dumped in the thick bushes, a distance from Glen Location

“Preliminary investigation indicates that Katleho was sexually assaulted and murdered.

“Crime scene experts are currently looking for clues that will help the investigation further. A case of Murder is opened at Glen Police Station,” confirmed Free State spokesperson for SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane.

Covane urges public members with information to assist the investigation and arrest of Leeuw’s suspect(s) to contact Sergeant Lebogang Dikgacoi on 083 585 1951 or 051 407 3600.