A 26-year-old mother from KwaZulu-Natal is in hospital under police guard after she allegedly killed both her children and then drank a poisonous substance.
It is alleged that the mother forced her 9-year-old son Siphephelo Mthembu to drink a poisonous substance while she strangled her 1-year-old son Lwandile Nxumalo with a fence wire to death, in Bunganeni, Umhlabuyalingana on Monday.
It is further alleged that the mother tried to kill herself by drinking a poisonous substance but was found while she was still alive. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Nxobile Gwala, the police spokesperson, the mother was rushed to hospital, where she remains under police guard.
Nonhlanhla Khoza, the KZN MEC for Social Development has extended her deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and his dispatched a team of social workers to assist the family with psycho-social support.
“We are taken aback by the brutal killing of innocent children. We would have preferred that the mother was able to share her challenges with social workers so that they can help her and her children. We are in so much pain for losing such innocent souls like this,” Khoza said.
“There is no justification or whatsoever for the mother’s act to kill her children like this,” she added.
She said it is disheartening that these incidents of child abuse had been witnessed with government commemorated national Child Protection Week, from 29 May to June 5. She said during this time, government created awareness on children’s rights and advocates for their protection.
“Protection of children is an everyday activity and acts of abusing and killing children will never be accepted by this government. We want to see all those involved in any form of child abuse get punished.”
Khoza pleaded with communities to play their roles to ensure that children are protected at all times.
Source: The Witness, News24, IOL, image from IOL: Pixabay
