Mpumalanga mother arrested after 8-month-old child dies of suspected poisoning | News24

A woman is expected to appear in the Bushbuckridge (Mapuleng) Magistrate’s Court in connection with the death of her 8-month-old child. (Screenshot/Google Street View)

• A Mpumalanga woman has been arrested following the death of her 8-month-old child.
• Police believe the child may have died of poisoning.
• The matter was reported to police by the local funeral parlour that handled the child’s remains.

A Mpumalanga woman has been arrested in connection with the
death of her 8-month-old child.

The child is believed to have been poisoned, said police
spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli.

The 33-year-old woman was arrested on Monday in Boikhutso
Trust, outside Bushbuckridge, after a funeral parlour alerted the police.

Mdhluli said:

He said first responders found the “infant laying
motionless, with the mother present”.

“As part of the ongoing investigation, the forensic
team has begun spadework through the gathering of evidence with the hope of
determining the cause of death.

“The motive behind the incident is unknown at this
stage, and it will form part of the investigation.”

The woman is expected to appear at the Bushbuckridge
Magistrate’s Court soon.

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Acting provincial police commissioner Major-General Zeph
Mkhwanazi said: “The law should surely deal decisively with any person who
harms children, regardless of any excuse that one may think of. Our role is to
protect the vulnerable, including children.”

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