Malelane man arrested for allegedly slitting the throat of his three-week old baby

Police have arrested a 21-year-old father from Middelplaas outside Malelane after he allegedly slit his three-week-old son's throat on Wednesday. 

The body of the infant was found wrapped in a bloodied blanket and towel dumped in bushes near a water reservoir and diesel depot in Middelplaas, police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala said. 

The man has been charged with kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice.

It is alleged he was in the company of four friends when he forcefully snatched the baby from the 15-year-old mother.

Mohlala said the mother and her family did not immediately report the incident to police but conducted their own search instead.

Mohlala said as dawn broke with no sign of the father and child, they reported the matter to Schoemansdal SAPS on Thursday.

“Police launched a manhunt with the aim of reuniting the little boy with his mother [but] information was received that the body of the child was found dumped in bushes,” Mohlala said.

Information was received that the suspect was at his uncle's home at Kamaqhekeza outside Komatipoort. He had reportedly arrived there with a bag full of clothes.

“Schoemansdal police followed up. The suspect was found in his uncle's house on Thursday and was arrested,” he said.

Mohlala said because of the age of the child's mother a statutory rape charge will be added.

The man is expected to appear in the Nkomazi magistrate's court in Tonga soon.

Mpumalanga acting police commissioner Zeph Mkhwanazi condemned the crime. 

He described it as inhumane behaviour and called for justice for the infant. He advised the public to immediately contact police when there is suspicion of someone's life being in danger. 

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