Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
14 October 2025
Makiteng Meriam Mbatha appeared before the Leandra Periodical court on Monday, 13 October 2024, on charges of murder of a four-year-old Tshiamo Lethu Botsene that was staying under her guardianship.
It was alleged that the grandmother initially told the police that the child died from falling on a bed before changing her story.
According to information received, Ms Mbatha was arrested on the 10th of September 2025 after a postmortem report revealed that the child died of poison found in the cabbage he consumed.
The court heard that on the day of Mbatha’s arrest, she allegedly handed the poison to the police, and leftovers of the cabbage were found at the house. It was further heard that Mbatha admitted to guilt on the day of her arrest.
During the bail application, she testified before the court and accused the police of assaulting her on the day she was arrested. She further told the court that she was forced to make the guilty statement by the police as they used teargas and water to assault her.
The alternative address provided to the police for verification turned out to be negative after the house owner became aware of the charges she is facing.
The court is expected to hand down judgment Monday, 20 October 2024 for bail judgement.
Baby Tshiamo has been laid to rest in September.
