A 31-year-old man appeared before the Praktiseer magistrate’s court in Limpopo on Tuesday on charges of assault and murder of a one-year old child.
The case was postponed to July 19 for a bail application hearing after the suspect was arrested on Sunday. He is also accused of beating up the child’s mother, who is his girlfriend.
According to reports, police received a complaint from Bothashoek village outside Burgersfort in Sekhukhune district on July 9 about a suspected assault of a minor.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said: “Upon arrival, the police found a one-year old girl laying on a sofa unconscious. The child had no pulse and bruises on the face were evident. She was certified dead on the scene by the paramedics.
“It is alleged that the suspect, a stepfather, assaulted the minor with an unknown object in the absence of the mother. It is reported that the 28-year-old mother left the child with her sister at about 6pm to search for the boyfriend at a tavern.
“According to information received, it is alleged that the suspect returned home before the girlfriend and subsequently assaulted the child.
“It is also reported that the girlfriend returned home at about 8.45pm, and upon her arrival the suspect allegedly accused her of stalking him and assaulted her in the presence of neighbours.”
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