Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya
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A 27 YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean woman was arrested by South African police for allegedly killing her newborn baby before concealing the body in an empty stand at Ratsaka Village in Morebeng area of Limpopo Province.
In a statement yesterday, the South African provincial police spokesperson for Limpopo, Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the incident occurred last Thursday.
He said the suspect is facing a charge of concealment of birth.
The suspect whose name police could not release, will soon appear at the Morebeng Magistrate Court.
“The South African Police Service in Morebeng arrested a 27-year-old suspect for a case of concealment of birth after the body of a newborn baby boy was found at an empty stand at Ratsaka village on Thursday, 15 June 2023 at around 4pm,” he said.
Police were notified about the incident and upon arrival with the emergency personnel, they found the newborn baby in the unoccupied yard and he was certified dead at the scene.
“Our officers got a tip-off and upon arrival at the scene together with the emergency services personnel, they found the body of the newborn baby lying on the ground near the suspect’s place of residence,” said Lt Col Ledwaba.
He said from investigations, police established that the suspect is a Zimbabwean woman aged 27 and she was arrested.
“She will appear in court facing charges of concealment of birth and infanticide,” said Lt Col Ledwaba.
In 2021, another 29-year-old Zimbabwean woman was arrested for drowning her newborn baby girl in a 20-litre bucket of boiling water in South Africa.
Prior to committing the crime, Wendy Tapiwa Chipo of Rietfonten in Gauteng province allegedly tried to abort the pregnancy without success.
It is alleged that Chipo then submerged the baby in a 20-litre bucket of boiling water before shoving the body in a plastic bag.
She ganged up with a friend to bury the body at a nearby bush.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter