A 27‑year‑old man from Tsakani, Ekurhuleni, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he deliberately killed his six‑week‑old infant by immersing her in boiling water—a horrifying incident that unfolded in February 2024.
On Friday, 1 August 2025, the Tsakani Magistrate’s Court delivered a life sentence for the murder of the infant. The court ruling came after an initial charge of attempted murder was escalated to murder once the baby succumbed to her injuries. This conviction is credited to the diligent efforts of Constable Mluleki Mpempeni, from the Springs Family Violence, Child Protection Services, and Sexual Offences Unit, who carried the investigation through to its conclusion. Ekurhuleni district commissioner Major‑General Anna Sithole commended the unit for their unwavering commitment, stating that the verdict ensures “heartless criminals are removed from the community.”
The horrific events began when the man, intoxicated and enraged, demanded beer from his 35‑year‑old girlfriend. When she refused, he threatened to burn her and her two children—aged three years and six weeks—with boiling water. The girlfriend fled outside to seek help. In her absence, the man boiled water in a kettle and attempted to burn the couple’s three‑year‑old son, who managed to escape unscathed, but tragically, the infant daughter did not.
He placed the boiling water into a bucket and submerged the six‑week‑old baby in it. When the mother returned, she discovered the horrifying scene and kicked over the bucket—but it was already too late. The baby suffered severe burns and later died in hospital.
The distraught mother expressed deep remorse and anger toward the man, lamenting that she had ever welcomed him into her life and wishing that “the man could rot in jail.”
This case underscores the bravery and effectiveness of law enforcement’s specialized units in bringing perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse to justice. It also highlights the community’s deep-seated grief and outrage over the loss of an innocent life.
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