Girl (4) dies after being thrown from fourth floor

A 38-year-old woman was arrested on the weekend for allegedly throwing a four-year-old girl from the fourth floor of a flat in Pretoria West.

The child died of her injuries.

Police Spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela said the woman was among 388 suspects who were arrested in Tshwane over the weekend.

“Information suggests that the suspect, an aunt to the victim, had been with the child inside the flat when the child’s mother arrived.”

He said an argument ensued between the two grownups and ended in the child being thrown from the fourth floor.

Mavimbela said further afield in Tshwane West, a 21-year-old man was arrested in Atteridgeville for allegedly fatally stabbing another man (38) at a tavern situated in the local informal settlement known as Brazzaville.

“Elsewhere east of Pretoria in Sunnyside, police arrested a 36-year-old security guard for allegedly stealing computer equipment worth over R13 000 from inside the offices of a government department earlier this month.”

Mavimbela said it was reported that the suspect stole the computer equipment while working night shift at the same building.

He said operations in the east and north of Tshwane resulted in more than 160 suspects being caught for crimes ranging from drunk driving, theft, malicious damage to property, to attempted murder.

Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said he was concerned about the number of motorists who still drove under the influence.

“These drunk drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but also a danger to society as some of them carry passengers and some cause accidents where other road users are affected.”

Mawela shared these remarks after one of the arrested suspects was found driving more than 13 passengers, including children, in a minibus taxi in Gauteng.

He said he was also concerned about the high numbers of young people who continued to partake in parties that ran beyond the regulated time, “with complete disregard for Covid-19 health protocols such as observing social distance and wearing of face masks”.

“Drinking in public has also become a problem that police are dealing with. Several people were arrested after they were found drinking in the streets.”

He said the O Kae Molao Operations that were conducted throughout the province saw more than 1 150 suspects arrested for serious and violent crimes.

Police in Tshwane arrested more than 380 suspects, while 353 were arrested in Ekurhuleni, 180 in the West Rand, 187 in Johannesburg and 64 in Sedibeng.

The arrested suspects will appear in various magistrates’ court in due course.