A man from Piet Retief received a hefty sentence at the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Breyten on 26 October, after brutally murdering a two-year-old-boy.

The accused, Boy Nhleko (29) killed the toddler for merely failing to say nature was calling.

The young boy was left in the care of Nhleko and the boy’s aunt in October 2019, as the child’s mother was working out of town.

Shortly after he was left in the couple’s care he was assaulted for about 36 hours, firstly with a waist belt, followed by three tree branches and later with an electric cable.

Subsequently, after the assault, Nhleko boiled water and poured it in a basin into which he forced the child, resulting in the boy sustaining serious burn wounds.

Instead of seeking medical care for the child, Nhleko and his lover left the child to die whilst they attended a local traditional function. They buried the boy’s body in a shallow grave.

Nhleko and the boy’s aunt left for the Kingdom of Eswatini, where he confided in his brother about what he had done. He explained all the details of the events.

His brother in turn reported the matter to the police and Nhleko was arrested a week after the murder at the Mahamba border on his return to South Africa.

During the investigation, Nhleko pointed out the place where he had buried the toddler’s body.

Acting Judge of the High Court, Mr Takalani Vincent Ratshibvumo, said the way in which the murder was committed, suggests that the accused does not value the sanctity of life.

The judge explained the agony that the child went through during the 36 hours before his death.

He further indicated that Nhleko became impatient with the boy, meanwhile, he grew up doing the same things that the child did, but no one murdered him.

Nhleko was sentenced to life imprisonment and his defense team tried to make an application for leave to appeal but the judge dismissed it.

The accused was also found to be unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be entered into the register of sexual offenders.