Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
15 September 2026
A 36-year-old woman, Asandiswa Jalajala, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and an additional three years’ imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice by the Evander Regional Court today, 15 September 2026.
Jalajala was convicted of murdering her newborn baby after allegedly giving birth to the baby girl in a bucket before strangling her when she started crying.
According to the statement of the investigating officer, which was read in court during the bail proceedings, Jalajala went to the toilet in the middle of the night while heavily pregnant. It is alleged that she gave birth to a baby girl in a bucket. When the baby started crying, Jalajala allegedly strangled her to death.
It was further alleged that Jalajala took the bucket, intending to dispose of the baby’s body. However, after becoming frightened because it was dark, she allegedly returned to the house and placed the baby’s body inside a fridge.
The following morning, a next-door neighbour at the rented property went to check on Jalajala, who was known to be heavily pregnant.
The neighbour allegedly discovered what had happened.
It was further alleged that Jalajala told her landlord that the baby was making noise.
The landlord subsequently contacted the police, resulting in Jalajala’s arrest.
