eMbalenhle woman sentenced to life in prison for killing newborn
Asandiswa Jalajala strangled her infant daughter and placed the body in the freezer.
The Evander Regional Court sentenced 36-year-old Asandiswa Jalajala to life imprisonment on September 15 for the murder of her newborn baby, and an additional three years for defeating the ends of justice.
Jalajala was convicted of murdering her newborn baby girl after giving birth at rental rooms in Extension 22, eMbalenhle, on February 16, 2025.
According to court statements, Jalajala went to the toilet in the middle of the night, where she gave birth to the baby in a bucket.
When the infant began crying, Jalajala strangled the baby.
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Jalajala was unable to dispose of the bucket during the night and returned to her room, where she placed the baby’s body inside a refrigerator.
Police were alerted after a neighbour went to check on Jalajala and discovered what had happened during the night.
The neighbour reported the matter to the landlord, who subsequently contacted the police. Jalajala was arrested and later released on R1 000 bail in March 2025 while the case proceeded.
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