THE devastating death of little Amantle Samane has changed the lives of many.
One of these is Gush Masanabo, the mastandi who found the six-year-old's body.
Speaking outside the Joburg High Court on Tueaday, 19 August, Gush opened up about the grim discovery that continues to haunt him.
He said: "She had no clothes on when we found her. He strangled her with his hands."
Gush recalled that it had not even been six months since Pethe Simiao, a Mozambican national accused of raping and killing Amantle, started renting the shack where her body was found.
Simiao, who was paying R600 rent, moved into the Orlando East backyard room in Sowet around June 2024 after he was allegedly kicked out of another shack he shared with his wife.
"We would not have known what he did had it not been for those three boys who came rushing into the yard saying they saw Pethe go into his shack with the girl. We found the girl lying on the floor when we went into the shack. My life is no longer the same," he said.
Amantle was reported missing on 21 October 2024 after she was last seen playing outside her home. Her body was discovered in Simiao's shack hours later.
Simiao was arrested on 24 October 2024 in Zola, Soweto. He later pleaded guilty to kidnapping, rape, murder and contravening the Immigration Act.
Gush said he still struggles to reconcile the fact that the man he allowed to live on his property committed such a horrific crime.
"He moved in around June 2025 and I never suspected he was capable of this. He kept to himself, sometimes working, sometimes drinking. But nothing prepared us for what we saw that day," he said.
The nightmare will never end for Gush. "I cannot erase what I saw. I remember that little girl every time I walk past that shack. My heart is broken forever," he said.
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Amantle would have celebrated her seventh birthday on Tuesday.
Family spokeswoman Brenda Mjiyako said what should have been a joyful birthday turned into yet another painful reminder of Amantle's absence.
"Amantle always celebrated her birthday with her older sister. This year, her sister asked if we could at least have a small dinner for her. It will never be the same, but we will try," she said.
Speaking in court, Amantle's mum, Ntombizodwa, shared how the family struggled to bury Amantle, relying on donations to cover funeral costs. She said her kids have not been the same since Amantle's death.
"I cannot reprimand them because I fear it will remind them of their sister. Whenever I hear a child cry outside, I become angry because it reminds me of Amantle. Her death killed my soul. I battle to sleep. This incident gave me hatred towards foreigners," she said.
She revealed that one of her four kids has become rebellious, while another has withdrawn so much that they stopped speaking all together.
Judge William Karam addressed Ntombizodwa directly, encouraging her to seek strength in faith.
"The court recommends that you continue taking your children to Sunday school because we all know that with God all things are possible," he said.
He further encouraged them to continue with counseling in order to heal.
The state has asked for the maximum punishment; life imprisonment for rape and murder, plus five years each for kidnapping and contravening the Immigration Act.
The family admitted that repeated delays in the case tested their faith in the justice system. But they hope Simiao's sentencing will finally bring some measure of closure.
"For us, it's not just about punishment. It is about sending a message that no one should get away with destroying the life of a child," said Mjiyako.
