- Pete Simiao, 25, convicted of kidnapping, rape, murder, and illegal immigration.
- Victim: 6-year-old Amantle Samane, abducted in October 2023.
- Court sentences: life imprisonment for murder, cumulative sentences for other crimes.
Pete Simiao, a 25-year-old Mozambican, was given a life sentence for the savage murder of 6-year-old Amantle Samane in Orlando East last year.
Simiao has already acknowledged to allegations of illegal immigration, rape, murder, and kidnapping. The young victim was abducted in October 2023, and her body was later found at the suspect’s shack. Simiao would have turned 25 last month. Following an extensive investigation, he was arrested by Zola police in Soweto on 23 October 2024.
Prosecution Statement
State prosecutor Zamkhiya Staffa stated that Simiao had every opportunity to do the right thing but continued to harm the child. During the sentencing in the High Court in Johannesburg, the court highlighted that his time in custody prior to trial was minimal, only ten months, and that Simiao had admitted guilt only to expedite proceedings.
“His claims of leaving his partner and child for many years if sentenced cannot absolve him. Remorse is not the same as true repentance,” the prosecutor stated.
Court Considerations
The court stressed that several questions remain unanswered, including:
- Why the accused committed the crime
- The circumstances that led him to admit guilt
- His true intentions when claiming remorse
- Information on the child’s confinement and the duration of the abuse
Despite these unknowns, the court noted that the child’s body was found two days after abduction, and there was no evidence of genuine remorse after arrest. Simiao had initially denied all charges upon being detained.
Sentencing
Simiao was sentenced as follows:
- Kidnapping: 2 years
- Murder: Life imprisonment
- Rape: Life imprisonment
- Illegal presence in South Africa: 2 years
All sentences will run concurrently, meaning Simiao will serve the life sentence for murder and rape as the primary punishment.