A teenage boy from Orange Farm has appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrates’ Court on a charge of murder for allegedly poisoning his three-year-old brother.
Orange Farm teen makes first court appearance
The matter was heard on Wednesday and has been postponed to next week for a formal bail application.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on Friday, 31 January 2025. It is alleged that the accused fed his younger brother poison before attempting to dispose of the body in a dustbin.
The child was reported missing after his mother noticed he had not returned home.
A family member later discovered the accused placing the child’s body inside a dustbin in an open field while herding goats.
A day after the incident, the teenager turned himself in to the police and allegedly confessed to the crime.
Orange Farm SAPS Station Commander, Brigadier MJ Manamel, praised the police and community members for their swift action in ensuring the suspect was quickly apprehended.
“The law should take decisive action against the suspect,” he stated.
The court is expected to hear arguments for and against bail in the next hearing. Until then, the accused remains in custody.
Here’s what we know about the State’s case
The State has charged the accused with murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Key evidence includes:
- Witness testimony: A sibling reportedly saw the accused placing the toddler’s body inside a dustbin and later attempting to move it toward an open field near the N1 national road.
- Confession: When the suspect handed himself over to the police, he allegedly confessed to poisoning his brother.
- Crime scene evidence: The child’s body was found in a dustbin, which was allegedly dragged by the suspect toward an open area, possibly to dispose of it.
The case has shocked the community, and authorities have vowed to take decisive action against the accused.
The next court appearance will determine whether he will be granted bail or remain in custody as the case proceeds.
