“He would help to push the children in the pram and we were placed under the false impression that they were safe in his care”
FAMILY members of 23-month-old Kutlwano Springbok, whose body was retrieved from the Vaal River near Delportshoop in April last year, feel one step closer to being able to close the chapter on her agonising death after the accused, Johannes Moroe, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court yesterday.
The toddler’s uncle, Richard Springbok, believed that the family had placed “too much trust” in Moroe.
“My sister Anna Anowar regarded him as a father figure for the children, as he used to date our sister Christine Springbok. He would help to push the children in the pram and we were placed under the false impression that they were safe in his care. We should never have trusted him.”
Richard believed that if Moroe had been kept in custody after contravening the protection order that Christine had obtained against him, Kutlwano might have still been alive. “A few days after he was released, he kidnapped and murdered Kutlwano.”
Richard was also convinced that despite his denials, Moroe was guilty of the crimes that he was convicted of.
He commended the police for conducting a thorough investigation that led to securing the conviction.
“The investigating officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Marli Strydom, helped us through a terrible time. She was like a mother to us. We are grateful that justice has taken its course.”
Richard also thanked the Delportshoop community for their assistance in searching for Kutlwano when she was reported missing and for offering their support throughout the trial.
