Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Mabuyane says the South African justice system is lenient on perpetrators of rape and femicide.
He was speaking at Wednesday's funeral of the little girl who's half-naked body was found in bushes in Mdantsane, East London last week.
The six-year-old, Inathi Mhlahlo is believed to have left her home to buy a packet of sweets but never returned.
Her body was found next to a road in Unit 8, Mdantsane with stab wounds to the neck.
Outraged community members have since taken the law into their own hands and killed a man accused of for the brutal rape and murder.
Premier Mabuyane has condemned the act and says we may now never know whether the person killed was the right suspect.
He urged law enforcement agencies to firm their grip on perpetrators of serious crimes.
No arrests have been made yet in connection with the child's murder and police appeal to anyone with information to come forward.
EC Premier Oscar Mabuyane addressing mourners in Mdantsane.
