The father of a three-month old baby was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of the murder of the infant.

On 22 October 2020 in Setlagole village, Jacob Molebo (31) took the baby from the mother and without any provocation, he threw and hit the child against the wall of the neighbour’s house.

Molebo then left the mother there without assisting her. The mother requested help from the neighbours, who helped to transport the child to the nearby clinic, where he was declared dead upon arrival. The police were subsequently called, and Molebo was arrested. He has been in custody since his arrest.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. The Magistrate, Stephan Du Toit in his judgment emphasised the court’s duty to protect vulnerable members of society and alarming prevalence of murder offences against women and children in the area. He agreed with the state and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.

Welcoming the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr. Rachel Makhari commended the investigative and prosecution teams for their dedication. “We stand united in our resolve to ensure justice is served. Violent crimes will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will face the full might of the law,” she said.