THERE is still no sign of the six-year-old child who went missing in Mbekweni almost three weeks ago.

This despite a confession from her alleged murderer and an intensive search of the entire area in and around Mbekweni by police and community members.

Asemahla Ntsabo went missing without a trace on Saturday evening 21 January after she had been playing with friends close to her home in an informal settlement in Drommedaris Street, close to the Mbekweni railway station.

Shortly hereafter police questioned a man known to the family, but he was released from custody.

A week after Asemahla’s disappearance, a man came forward and told the police that he had abducted the child, raped and murdered her, before dumping her body in a dam adjacent to the nearby Paarl water treatment works.

But despite the dam being scoured by police divers and the area searched with the help of a police helicopter, no sign of the child has been found.

Langa Mbinyana (27) has been arrested and charged with kidnapping.

A murder charge can only be executed once evidence of a murder or DNA material linking the suspect to the missing child is found.

Mbijana worked as a casual labourer on housing projects in Mbekweni, but is currently unemployed. He was allegedly living amongst bushes along the Berg River.