Missing 11-year-old girl found dead in Eastern Cape river

The decomposed body of 11-year-old Athi Zimi Mnguni, who was reported missing in Ngqeleni last month, has been found in a river in Nomcamba Location.

Police said local people discovered the girl's body on Thursday, 24 September 2026, while hunting in a forest in Nomcamba Locality, Zinduneni Administrative Area.

Her family and community members identified the body. Police said she was still wearing the clothes she had on when she disappeared.

Mnguni was reported missing at Ngqeleni police station after she disappeared on 30 August while playing at a nearby sports field with other children.

According to police, Mnguni lived with a mental disability. A multidisciplinary search operation involving members of the Mthatha Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, Ngqeleni SAPS, K9 Unit, Mounted Unit and community members was launched following her disappearance.

Police had appealed to the public for information that could help locate the girl.

The circumstances surrounding her death and how she came to be in the river were not immediately disclosed.