Mongezi Koko27 May 2025 | 10:45

Alleged child rapist, murderer Simiao intends to plead guilty to one of four charges

The 24-year-old Mozambican national appeared in the Johannesburg High Court for the conclusion of his pre-trial hearing.

Alleged child rapist, murderer Simiao intends to plead guilty to one of four charges

Alleged child rapist and murderer Pethe Sara Simiao appears before the Johannesburg High Court on 27 May 2025. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG - Alleged child rapist and murderer Pethe Sara Simiao said he intends to plead guilty to just one of the four charges he faces.

The 24-year-old Mozambican national appeared in the Johannesburg High Court for the conclusion of his pre-trial hearing.

He faces charges of rape, murder, kidnapping, and contravening South Africa’s immigration laws.

Simiao was arrested in 2024 after the body of six-year-old Amantle Samane was found in his shack in Orlando, Soweto.

The court heard that he plans to plead guilty to entering and staying in the country illegally, but that plea will only be formally entered during the trial.

“That’ll be part of the trial. It’s not noted here in the pre-trial document – it’s just noted that there may be a plea for count number four, I think.”

A trial date is expected to be set soon.