Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
27 February 2025
Asandiswa Jalajala (36) appeared before the Evander Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, for a formal bail application on premeditated murder charges of her newborn child.
She was accused of giving birth in a bucket, and when the baby started crying, she strangled the baby to death.
According to a statement of the investigation officer read before court, Asandiswa went to the toilet in the middle of the night, where she gave birth to a baby girl in a bucket; when the baby started crying, it is alleged that she strangled her to death.
Thereafter, she then took the bucket, trying to dispose of the baby, but got frightened as it was dark and went back to the house, where she allegedly put the body of the baby in a fridge.
The next morning her next-door neighbour at the rented place came to check up on her as she was heavily pregnant, only to discover what she had done.
It is alleged that Asandiswa told the landlord that the baby was making noise for her.
The landlord then called the police and she was arrested at her rental place in eMbalenhle.
The matter has been postponed to 4 March 2025 for a further bail hearing.
