Police investigate death of Mpumalanga toddler found covered in glue
A case of child neglect is being investigated after a two-year-old boy was found dead near Bethal.
The death of a two-year-old who was allegedly left without adult supervision alongside his nine-year-old sister has led to an inquest and a child neglect case being opened by police in eMzinoni, near Bethal, in Mpumalanga.
According to Ridge Times, eMzinoni police spokesperson Sergeant Cynthia Mtshweni said a family reported the incident to the police yesterday (July 9). Police officers accompanied the family to the home to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Mother finds child unresponsive
Mtshweni said the children’s mother told police that she had gone to visit her boyfriend, leaving her two children – a two-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl – asleep in her room. She later returned home and found that the toddler was unresponsive.
“When she asked her nine-year-old daughter what had happened, the child was unable to explain properly,” said Mtshweni.
The mother then called her sister, who lives in the main house on the property. As they took the child into the main house, they allegedly noticed that the boy’s face, particularly around the mouth and parts of his clothing, were covered in glue.
According to Mtshweni, the mother tried to remove the glue from the child’s face, but this allegedly caused the skin to peel off.
Social workers intervene
When police arrived at the scene, they found the toddler lying on the floor with injuries to his face. The nine-year-old girl also had glue on her face and clothing.
Police searched the room where the children had been sleeping and found several containers of glue, as well as glue stored inside a plastic bag.
Social workers were called to the scene and removed the girl to a safe place while the investigation continues. The exact cause of the child’s death will be determined through a post-mortem examination.
Mtshweni said the family alleged that the mother has a history of smoking glue.
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