03 June 2022
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela expressed her shock after a 16-year-old girl was arrested by the police in Calcutta on Thursday, 02 June 2022 in connection with the murder of her 2-week-old baby.
According to the information received by the police, the baby’s grandmother was asleep when she woke up and discovered that the baby was missing, in the early hours of 02 June 2022.
She searched for the baby but couldn’t find her.
She also asked the baby’s mother about the child’s whereabouts but she apparently refused to speak.
The grandmother opted to report the matter to the police who upon arrival questioned the baby’s mother and she apparently admitted that she killed the baby and stuffed her body in a school bag.
The mother led the police to the room where she had hidden her baby in the bag and was immediately arrested.
The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
The Provincial Commissioner has described the incident as tragic and unfortunate.
She further advised young mothers to seek assistance from relevant organizations to lessen the burden in order to prevent such tragic incidents.
