Infant declared dead at local clinic
A 20-year-old woman has been taken into custody following the death of a three-month-old baby boy in the rural village of Mundzedzi, outside Bandelierkop in Limpopo's Vhembe District. The tragic incident unfolded on Friday evening, 1 August 2025, at approximately 18:00, when the infant was allegedly choked to death inside a home.
Officers conducting routine patrol duties in the area were called to the Vleifontein clinic at around 18:30 after two individuals arrived at the facility carrying the lifeless body of a child. Upon reaching the clinic, a medical officer directed the police to the bed where the deceased infant lay.
According to accounts given to the authorities, the two individuals had been seated outside a house with the suspect, who was holding the baby at the time. The young woman reportedly took the child and went inside the dwelling while the others remained outdoors.
"After some few minutes they went inside to check on her. They allegedly found the suspect in a seating position and chocking the baby."
The witnesses immediately intervened, wresting the baby from the suspect and rushing him to the nearest clinic in a desperate attempt to save his life. Tragically, the child succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the facility.
Suspect to face murder charge in court
Law enforcement officers wasted no time in opening a murder docket and tracking down the suspect. She was swiftly apprehended and now faces a charge of murder. Authorities have confirmed that the accused is a relative of the deceased child, though the precise nature of their relationship has not been disclosed.
The motive behind the killing remains unknown at this stage, and detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant's death. The 20-year-old suspect is expected to make her first appearance before the Makhado Magistrate's Court in the coming days.
The case has sent shockwaves through the close-knit community of Mundzedzi, where residents are struggling to come to terms with the violent death of such a young child at the hands of a family member. Police have urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
