Teenager in court for allegedly killing his three-year-old brother with rat poison

An 18-year-old boy appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder of his three-year-old brother.

The boy from Orange Farm in Johannesburg, is accused of allegedly poisoning his three-year-old brother.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said the incident happened on January 31, 2025.

"The child’s mother was at home with the accused and her other two sons, aged 16 and 22, when she noticed that her youngest son was missing. Assuming he was playing at a neighbour’s house, she did not raise the immediate alarm. However, by 1pm, when the child had still not returned, she started searching for him," she said.

Mahanjana said around 4pm, the 16-year-old brother went to a nearby veld near the N1 highway to feed his goats when he saw the accused placing the child’s body inside a dustbin.

"After confronting him, the brother took the dustbin containing the child's body to their home and informed their mother. Emergency services were called, and the child was declared dead at the scene," she said.

She added that the following day, the accused handed himself over to the police and allegedly confessed to poisoning his brother with rat poison.

The matter was postponed to February 13, 2025, for a formal bail application.

In a separate matter, a 22-year-old father was arrested after he allegedly murdered his 17-month-old daughter in Ermelo, Mpumalanga.

Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said in the early hours of December 30, 2024, the father took the baby to the hospital, claiming that she sustained injuries after falling off a bed.

However, when medical staff examined the toddler, they established that she was already dead.

"The hospital staff contacted the police to report that the girl had suffered injuries, which was of a suspicious nature. The toddler had several bruises all over her body, and there were signs of strangulation," explained Ndubane in a statement.

Ndubane said that the father was arrested the same day for a non-related case and has since been in custody.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

IOL