A 28-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly burning her seven month old daughter to death inside a shack. The gruesome incident occurred at Vosman near Witbank on Sunday morning, 27 August 2023 around 03:00 am.
A report by the Police indicates that Emergency Services Personnel, including SAPS members from Vosman were alerted about a shack which was on fire at Marikana in Extension 16.
Upon arrival at the crime scene, a group of people was found being deeply perturbed by the horrifying incident at which the fire consumed an innocent toddler.
Preliminary investigations by the Police revealed that earlier on, the child’s mother and her husband had a heated argument which turned violent. The husband then left the premises and it was during this time when she allegedly torched the shack. Although she was whisked away from the raging flames by some members of the public who became outrageous. They even tried to take the law into their own hands however the Police rescued her.
There were also some allegations that she was somehow under the influence of alcohol when the incident happened however the allegations will form part of the investigation.
Further reports indicate that before the authorities were called, members of the community noticed the blazing fire at a shack and they began screaming.
It was at that period when the woman was somehow rescued but sadly, after the fire was extinguished, the charred tiny remains of the child were found in the rubble.
After Police conducted their investigations, they arrested the woman for murder. The female suspect will be appearing before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 29 August 2023 facing the said charges.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the incident and labeled it as heartless and uncalled for. “It is the responsibility of parents to protect children rather than to use them as either weapons or shields during fights. We really urge community members to seek for professional help from social workers when they are confronted with social challenges but never to resort into violence at the expense of children, ” said the General.