Swellendam father allegedly stabs 16-month old baby to death

A 33-year old father has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his 16-month old baby girl to death on a farm in Buffeljagsriver near Swellendam on Thursday 9 January 2020. 

According to Sphiwe Hobasi from George, this comes after an alleged domestic dispute between the father and the mother of the child yesterday afternoon.

Father kills baby during fight with mother 

Police confirmed that the alleged murder took place during a fight with the baby’s mother. 

Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie said that “whilst fighting with his partner over work on a farm in a neighbouring town (Witsand), the suspect grabbed hold of the child, took her outside the dwelling and fatally stabbed her.”

The baby has been identified as Alime Mbasha. She died “due to cut and stab wounds to her neck and chest respectively. The mother who is 24-years old sustained only minor injuries during the ordeal” said Pojie. 

The suspect is being kept at Swellendam Police Station pending his court appearance on Monday 13 January 2020. The father will be facing a charge of Murder.

Newly appointed Provincial Commissioner, Yolisa Matakata has condemned the incident saying the suspect “must be held accountable for taking the life of an innocent child who was not able to defend herself.”

TheSouthAfrican.com tried to get hold of Malcolm Pojie for further comment but he was unavailable. 

Three children murdered in SA every day 

The crime statistics released by SAPS in parliament in September 2019 revealed a slight decrease in the number of women killed, however, a spike in the number of children murdered.

According to the African News Agency (ANA), the number of children killed in South Africa increased to 1014 (up 2.9%), meaning about three children die every day as a result of murder.

Stepfather found dead after killing child 

In a separate incident, on 25 September 2019, a three-year-old boy was found dead and his brother, 7, was severely injured after their stepfather, 33, allegedly stabbed them.

The incident occurred at Mahikeng in the North West. Footage of the North West Health Department’s Forensic Pathology Services were caught on video as they carried out the body of the toddler.

When the police launched a manhunt, police spokesperson, Yvonne Tshabile, appealed to community members to assist them in tracking him down.

On 26 September 2019 the unnamed stepfather’s body was discovered after he fled. A search party found him in the morning inside his vehicle.