Two mothers accused of killing their children
One allegedly strangled her infant son and, with the help of his father, dumped his body in a dam near her house. The other was found after apparently having consumed poison next to the bodies of her five-year-old son and her 18-month-old daughter. Police suspect that she wanted to commit suicide.
MBOMBELA – Two mothers are in police custody after they allegedly murdered their young children this week.
One allegedly strangled her infant son and, with the help of his father, dumped his body in a dam near her house. The other was found after apparently having consumed poison next to the bodies of her five-year-old son and her 18-month-old daughter. Police suspect that she wanted to commit suicide.
On Monday afternoon, a young mother from a farm near near the city, reported her 14-month-old son as missing. Police called in the help of a helicopter to search the premises around her house.
According to informed sources close to the investigation, the mother took a long bath and watched television while police were searching for her child. The investigating officers became suspicious of her behaviour and questioned her. About 14 hours after the investigation (Tuesday morning) was initiated, she confessed that she and the child’s biological father murdered the infant, placed his body in a mealie-meal bag filled with rocks, and dumped him into a nearby dam on Monday afternoon.
She was arrested and taken to the dam where members of the police’s diving unit started their search for the infant’s body. After hours of searching in the dam, police still did not find anything and continued the search on Wednesday without success. A second dam in the area was also searched with no results. The police couldn’t trace the child’s father. The matter is now being investigated by Mbombela SAPS.
“All we can say at this stage is that the mother will appear in court on Friday in terms of the Child Protection Act,” SAPS spokesman, Capt Dawie Pretorius confirmed.
In a second case, a 23-year-old mother from Xhimhungwe Trust near Hazyview is suspected of killing her two children before trying to commit suicide on Tuesday.
According to a press release by SAPS provincial office, the family’s neighbours noticed the two children – a five-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl, lying unconscious on the floor and called the police. When police arrived on the scene, they discovered the boy had multiple injuries to his face and body while it looked as if the girl was strangled. They were both declared dead on the scene.
The mother was lying close by, apparently foaming around her mouth. Police believe she wanted to commit suicide after killing her children. She was rushed to hospital, where she remains under police surveillance. “As police we urge the community to seek professional assistance whenever they are faced with problems before resorting to taking their own life and that of loved ones,” the statement read.
