5 March 2007
The team of police investigators who have been working non-stop since the
disappearance of Sheldean Human (7) from her home in Claremont, Pretoria is
confident that the body of a young child found this afternoon in a small river
in Pretoria West is that of the missing child. The description, clothing and
jewellery correspond to that worn by the missing child at the time of her
disappearance on 18 February 2007.
A police Joint Operational Centre (JOC) was set up at the Hercules police
station shortly after the child was reported missing. Investigators and police
officers from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit,
as well as the Hi-tech Unit, Tshwane Metro Police and detectives from the
Hercules police station manned the JOC. They and other police officers worked
around the clock since the disappearance of Sheldean. They refused to go off
duty until such time that Sheldean was found.
Their investigations and a search of the main suspect's room in Pretoria
West revealed many newspaper clippings about the disappearance of Leigh
Matthews. Police continued to question the suspect Andrew Jordaan (25). They
also questioned at least two other suspects but they could not be connected to
the disappearance of Sheldean.
During their investigations they stumbled across a child exploiter who
allegedly sexually abused at least thirteen children. However, they were unable
to connect this suspect with Sheldean's disappearance.
The apparent obsessive interest of Andrew Jordaan with the Leigh Matthews
case led to a situation where detectives decided to involve senior
superintendent Piet Byleveld. Byleveld was involved in the investigation into
the disappearance and murder of Leigh Matthews.
Superintendent Byleveld intensively questioned Jordaan on Monday. Jordaan
broke down and co-operated with police by showing them where he had hidden the
body in a storm water inspection hole in Pretoria West. However, the body was
found near the storm water outlet in a small river a few metres away. Storm
water apparently washed the body out of the inspection hole into the river.
The body is in a state of decomposition and an autopsy will be held to
determine the cause of death.
The Gauteng provincial commissioner, Commissioner Perumal Naidoo praised the
detectives, police officers and other law enforcement agencies for a job well
done. He also thanked the community for their interest and support from day
one. The community showed total support and even helped during the search for
Sheldean.
Andrew Jordaan will again appear in the Pretoria magistrate court on 9 March
2007 on charges of kidnapping and murder.
Enquiries:
Eugene Opperman
Tel: (011) 570 9119/ 391 4354
Cell: 082 807 9095
Issued by: South African Police Service
5 March 2007
Source: South African Police Service (http://saps.gov.za)
