9 year old's body found

THE parents of Zinhle Ndala (9) are relieved that her body has been found.

But now they have to make peace with their neighbour.

Daily Sun reported during Zinhle's disappearance on 4 January this year, the cops allegedly received a tip-off to search the neighbour's house.

They did so but the child wasn't there.

The neighbour took offence and opened a case of defamation against the Ndalas. On Monday the two families appeared in the Mamelodi Magistrates Court.

The case was postponed to 4 March.

Now Zinhle's parents Thoko and Vusi Ndala (43) are pleading with their neighbour to forgive them.

"I hope that we can bury the hatchet. As a family, we are relieved that we have found Zinhle's remains. It is painful because we were still hoping to find her alive," said dad Vusi.

Zinhle's decomposed body was found in a storm water drain.

It was wrapped in a plastic bag.

The discovery, not far from her home in Mamelodi, Tshwane was made by a municipal cleaner.

Vusi said they were able to identify Zinhle by the clothes she was wearing on the day she went missing.

"Even though her body was decomposed, her hairstyle as well as the green T-shirt and blue jeans she was wearing made it easier for us to identify her."

Police spokesman Captain Tshekiso Mofokeng told Daily Sun that a murder case was opened and the cops were investigating.