Probe after teen's body found in Maritzburg informal settlement

Snegugu Mthembu went missing on Sunday afternoon around the settlement.

A community protest broke out after a police search party didn't find the child.

Yesterday, community search party came across the half-naked body of the girl near the Dorpspruit River - just a few houses away from her home. 

The police's Thembeka Mbele says three people were taken in for questioning - but have since been released.

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She says tragedy also struck during the search for the child.

"During the search, a member of the community believed to be in his forties was also electrocuted during the incident while searching for the suspect. He was declared dead at the scene. The police are still investigating this matter. We can confirm that there's one suspect arrested for murder," Mbhele said. 

Snegugu's mother, Joyce Dlamini's employer Chiara Ray says Dlamini was in a state of shock when they went to identify her daughter's body.

"They took so long to come for the body - I think they couldn't find the place. The child was lying in the ditch for a while. She was screaming and hysterical. She went to fetch water and found her child lying there - it's like a river with trash in it."