LIMPOPO – Social workers were dispatched to the Moleketla village in Bolobedu outside Modjadjiskloof following the murder of a two-year-old girl by her father on Friday (April 15).

According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the father, who is now deceased, took his two daughters and indicated he was going to kill them.

“The Police were called and were stopped by the community along the way who were walking with the bloodied seven-year old daughter. The child took the police to the spot where the incident happened and on arrival, they found the two-year-old dead from an apparent strangulation and the father hanging from a tree.”

Mojapelo said preliminary police investigations revealed that both children were staying with the deceased and the mother was in Gauteng.

The Limpopo MEC for Social Development, Nkakareng Rakgoale has added her voice in condemning the murder and has urged parents who have domestic challenges to not resort to violence and harm children, but to approach social workers for professional assistance.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this tragic incident. It can’t be that when people feel aggrieved, they resort to harming the little ones. All family members have a responsibility to care for and love children and to not harm them. Social workers have been dispatched to the area for them to start with the provision of psychosocial support to the affected parties,” Rakgoale said.

Cases of murder, attempted murder and an inquest have been opened and Mojapelo said investigations continue.