20-year-old woman arrested for allegedly choking three-month-old baby in Limpopo

A 20-year-old woman has been arrested in Limpopo for allegedly choking a three-month-old baby. 

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said that on the evening of August 1, while officers were out on patrol in Mundzedzi village, they were alerted around 6:30 pm and rushed to Vleifontein Clinic after receiving reports that two people had arrived at the facility with the body of a deceased infant.

Ledwaba said that when police arrived at the clinic, a medical officer pointed out the lifeless body of the baby lying on a bed. 

The two individuals informed officers that they had been sitting outside with the 20-year-old female suspect, who was holding the infant, before she went inside the house and allegedly strangled the child.

“They allegedly found the suspect in a seating position and choking the toddler.“

The two individuals attempted to intervene and stop the woman before rushing the infant to the nearest clinic, where the baby unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead by medical personnel.

Ledwaba said police acted quickly, opening a murder case and promptly tracing and arresting the 20-year-old suspect, who is a relative of the deceased three-month-old baby.

Police said the motive behind the tragic incident remains unknown. The 20-year-old suspect is set to appear in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court soon, facing a charge of murder.

Investigations are still underway.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za