![Police Interview Six Persons Of Interest In 17-Year-Old Palesa Malatji Rape And Murder-SurgeZirc SA](https://surgezirc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Pales-M.png)
Six people of interest have been detained by Gauteng police in connection with the rape and murder of Palesa Malatji.
On Friday, May 26, a 17-year-old Soshanguve matriculant was viciously raped and murdered while walking home from extra lessons.
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Palesa’s body was discovered in a veld near Ntsako Secondary School, triggering widespread public outrage after her family accused police of neglecting to assist them when they went to report her missing on Thursday.
General Elias Mawela, the Gauteng police commissioner, has now indicated that action will be taken against SAPS employees who neglected to assist the family in filing a missing persons report.
According to the family, Rietgat police stated that there were no cars available to start a search for Palesa, who was reported missing at 17h00 on Thursday, May 25.
Palesa was last spotted leaving her school at 16h00 on Thursday, but police did not assist until after midnight.
With Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane promising the Soshanguve community that the perpetrator/s will be brought to justice by the end of the week, police claim 6 people of interest have already been questioned.
Five have now been released, while one is still being held by authorities.
According to police, a team of detectives has been assembled to investigate Palesa’s rape and murder, and they are working around the clock to solve the case.
A memorial for Palesa was held on Friday, 02 June at the Revival Church in Soshanguve and the matriculant who had hopes of becoming a pharmacist will be laid to rest on Saturday, 03 June.