- A 31-year-old mother and her 26-year-old boyfriend were arrested for the murder of a 4-year-old boy.
- The toddler was allegedly killed for breaking a plasma TV while playing.
- The couple buried the boy in a shallow grave near Boitekong, Rustenburg.
- Neighbours became suspicious after not seeing the child since July 2023.
- The mother confessed to the crime after being questioned by the community and their Councillor.
A North West mother and her boyfriend were arrested on Thursday for allegedly murdering her four-year-old son and burying him in a shallow grave.
North West mom kills son, buries his body in shallow grave
North West provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Funani stated that the couple killed the toddler last year and buried him in a shallow grave in the veld on the outskirts of Boitekong Extension 4.
The couple’s crime went unnoticed for several months until residents became suspicious when they no longer saw the child.
“According to information, the child was last seen by neighbours in July 2023,” said Funani.
The mother made up stories to explain the child’s absence, but the community’s concerns grew. This week, the residents decided to involve their Councillor, who approached the mother.
Under questioning, the mother allegedly confessed to the crime.
“She disclosed that she and her boyfriend killed the child and buried him in a shallow grave in the bushes,” Funani said.
The Councillor and community members then handed over the mother and her boyfriend to the police, who charged them with murder.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 8 July 2024.
North West provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Sello Kwena commended the community for their restraint and cooperation with the police.
“I congratulate the community for not taking the law into their own hands but working together with the police to arrest the suspects,” said Kwena.
