Police have confirmed that a neighbour has been arrested for the rape and murder six-year-old Delvina Europa.
Captain FC van Wyk: "This office confirm that the 35-year-old suspect who was taken in for questioning in the murder and rape case of the six-year-old girl whose body was found in the bushes in Elim near Bredasdorp on Tuesday, 2019-03-26 is charged and will appear in the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court today (Thursday).
Six-year-old Delvina was a cousin of 11-year-old Stacha Arendse of Mitchells Plain, who was killed in the same way.
On Wednesday, Stacha’s family took to social media to ask for prayers and support for the relatives of little Delvina Europa, six.
Stacha’s mother Sandy Markgraff and her uncle Henry Arends say they grew up in Elim, where their own parents were born and lived.
Sandy posted on Facebook: “To my family and friends in Elim, my heart is bleeding to be with you guys, you are in my prayers and thoughts from the Arends family.”
Stacha was raped and murdered by the family’s neighbour Randy Tango. Thursday also marks the second anniversary of her brutal death.
Stacha had been lured by Tango from her friend’s home in Matroosberg Street, Tafelsig, on 28 March 2017, after he told her her family was looking for her.
Her body was found at a nearby soccer field. Tango was sentenced to three life terms in December 2017.
On Wednesday, Carol October, the maternal aunt and legal guardian of Delvina, told Daily Voice they are struggling to cope with her death.
HARTSEER: Carol Europa
The little girl was last seen alive on Sunday at 4pm while playing in front of a neighbour’s home.
Cops confirmed Delvina had been seen going into the bush with a man known to her.
Her body was found on Tuesday just after 7am by community members who were searching for her.
A hartseer Carol says she and her brother Maxwell had looked after Delvina after her mother passed away suddenly last October.
“I last saw Delvina at 4pm playing in front of a neighbour’s house. We are traumatised and we are not prepared to say anything at this stage on how she died. We just want justice to be served,” she said
Delvina was in Grade 1 at Elim Moravian Primary school.