The Johannesburg High Court recently sentenced 31-year-old Daniel Maphopha to life imprisonment and another 40 years on seven charges against him including murdering a child, the attempted murder of five people including his ex-girlfriend, and arson. The crimes were committed in November 2020.

Randfontein Police spokesperson Sergeant Carmen Hendricks explained, “On Tuesday, November 17, 2020, Maphopha had an argument with his ex-girlfriend and stabbed her. The victim ran to a family friend and Maphopha told her he would come after her and her family.

“On November 20, 2020, Maphopha went to a plot in Vleikop and set the house on fire knowing that his ex-girlfriend, her 39-year-old mother, her five- and seven-year-old siblings, and a 59-year-old family friend were inside.

The mother managed to help the family escape through a window but she stayed in the house that was gutted by the fire to try to save her five-year-old son, but she could not find him. She later also escaped through the window.

“The fire department and ambulance were called to the scene and the five-year-old boy’s body was found trapped under the bed. He had burned to death.”

The investigating officer, Constable Mzamo Magelane of the Randfontein Police Detectives arrested Maphopha after intense investigations.

Randfontein Police station commander Brigadier Jacob Manamela applauded the constable for a job well done.