An 18-year-old boy from Orange Farm, Johannesburg, appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, facing charges related to the alleged murder of his three-year-old brother. The shocking incident, which has left the community reeling, reportedly took place on January 31, 2025.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the boy’s mother was at home with the accused and her other two sons, aged 16 and 22, when she noticed that her youngest child was missing. Initially believing the toddler was playing at a neighbor’s house, she did not raise any alarms. However, by 1 p.m., with no sign of the child, she began searching frantically.
The gruesome discovery came hours later. At around 4 p.m., the 16-year-old brother went to a nearby veld near the N1 highway to tend to his goats when he witnessed the accused placing the lifeless body of the toddler into a dustbin. Horrified, he confronted his older brother, then carried the dustbin home to inform their mother. Emergency services were called immediately, but the child was declared dead at the scene.
In a chilling turn, the following day, the accused surrendered himself to police and allegedly confessed to poisoning his younger brother with rat poison. The court has postponed the case to February 13, 2025, for a formal bail application.
In a separate, equally harrowing incident, a 22-year-old father from Ermelo, Mpumalanga, has been arrested for the alleged murder of his 17-month-old daughter. Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane stated that in the early hours of December 30, 2024, the father brought his toddler to the hospital, claiming she had fallen off a bed and sustained injuries. However, medical staff quickly determined that the child was already dead upon arrival.
The medical team grew suspicious when they discovered multiple bruises covering the toddler’s body, along with clear signs of strangulation. The hospital promptly notified the police, and the father was arrested later that day in connection with an unrelated case. He has remained in custody since, as investigations into his daughter’s death continue.
Both cases have sparked widespread outrage and horror, with communities grappling to understand the motives behind such tragic acts. Authorities are continuing their investigations, with a focus on ensuring justice for the young victims.
