LIMPOPO – A 30-year-old woman who was arrested for the murder of her newborn daughter, appeared in the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday, July 1) and was remanded in custody until July 8 when she will apply for bail.

The woman was arrested at the Masingita Mall on Monday, June 28 after allegedly assaulting her newborn daughter.

Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo explained that on the morning of the incident the woman, accompanied by her mother, had visited a clinic nearby ‘to consult and find out why her tummy was growing bigger. “She allegedly denied she was pregnant and while waiting for the consultation had indicated to her mother that she wanted to go to the bathroom at the adjacent mall.”

It is reported that the woman had gone to the public bathroom where she gave birth to a baby girl. “The baby’s cries alerted the cleaners who immediately rushed to the bathroom to discover the mother assaulting the newborn.”

According to an earlier statement issued by the Department of Health it is alleged the woman had her infant daughter by her legs and banged her head against the wall. “She allegedly also tore the jaws of the newborn open with her bare hands,” departmental spokesperson Neil Shikwambana explained.

The authorities were notified and police arrived on the scene to find the badly injured newborn. Mojapelo said the mother and her badly injured daughter were taken to the local hospital. “The baby was transferred to the Mankweng hospital but succumbed to her injuries.”

Mojapelo said the suspect was later discharged from the hospital and was immediately arrested on a charge of attempted murder. “The charge has since been changed to murder after the police learnt about the passing of the baby.”

Provincial police commissioner Lt  Genl Thembi Hadebe strongly condemned this gruesome incident and said nothing can justify the actions of the suspect.

The motive for this gruesome incident is unknown at this stage and police investigations still continue, Mojapelo concluded.

June 29

WARNING: GRAPHIC INFORMATION

LIMPOPO – The Limpopo Department of Health say they are “saddened and outraged” over the killing of a newborn baby in a bathroom in a mall in Malamulele on Monday, June 28. 

According to a statement by departmental spokesperson Neil Shikwambana, a woman allegedly gave birth to a baby girl inside a public toilet in the mall, before gruesomely killing her.

“It is alleged the woman, who hid her pregnancy from her family, delivered the baby in the toilet and thereafter killed the newborn by holding her by her legs and banging her head against the wall. She allegedly also tore the jaws of the newborn open with her bare hands,” he explained.

Shikwambana said a general worker at the mall called for help upon witnessing part of the incident.

“Emergency Medical Services personnel tried to take the newborn to hospital, but unfortunately the baby died before she could reach the hospital,” he added.

Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba said the department will deploy mental healthcare practitioners to work with the SAPS.

“This is truly heart wrenching. The gruesome manner in which the newborn was allegedly killed is outrageous. As a department, we cannot rule out mental health issues. For a woman to hide her pregnancy until she delivers on a full term and thereafter kill the child cannot be normal behaviour,” added Ramathuba.

She called on men to support their pregnant partners throughout the pregnancy period, as she believes this can go a long way in reducing the aggravation of some mental conditions.

“The public is once again reminded of the options available should a woman fall pregnant but not want to keep the child. They can at the early stages of the pregnancy terminate the pregnancy or give away their children for adoption to those who want them instead of throwing them away or killing them,” Ramathuba explained.

Shikwambana told Review that the 30-year-old woman was arrested.