Police have confirmed the arrest of a 35-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man in connection with the murder of a five-year-old child in Samora Machel.

The child’s body was discovered along Duinefontein Road on Monday morning, prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

According to reports, the Samora Machel Community Police Forum (CPF) believes a family member may be linked to the murder.

CPF Chairperson Sydwell Nobongoza alleges that the child’s aunt and her boyfriend may have been involved in the killing. The child’s mother had reportedly left the five-year-old in the care of a babysitter while she went out for the night.

Nobongoza says the aunt later fetched the child following a dispute with her sister.

Community members subsequently launched a search for the child and reportedly found the aunt at an informal settlement in Vlei, where she was allegedly attempting to flee.

The CPF alleges that residents later inspected the aunt’s home in the Vukuzenzela Informal Settlement, where they discovered bloodstains and signs that an attempt had allegedly been made to clean the area.

Police have since taken the 35-year-old woman and 40-year-old man in for questioning in connection with the child’s murder.

The CPF says the two suspects were found near the area where the child’s body was allegedly dumped.

Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death are continuing.