MUM CONFESSES STRANGLING BABY TO DEATH

NHLANGANO – A nine-year-old child was strangled to death, allegedly by his mother who was later arrested by the police.

The incident happened on Sunday afternoon at Maseyisini in the Shiselweni Region. According to information sourced from people working close to the case, the mother of the child, Tengetile Manana (32) was living with her step mother and she said they did not have a good relationship. It was stated that Manana would receive complaints that her now deceased child, was help himself to other children’s food when the minors were alone.

It was said that on the day of the incident, it was the same case and Manana’s step sister approached her to inform her that her child was in the big house and had helped himself to food kept for the other children. It was said that Manana was infuriated by his act and called her child to her house.

Reprimanded

She is said to have reprimanded him about his act while asking him what she had to do to stop him from causing trouble for her in the homestead they were living at. According to Manana, they have changed homes at least twice because of ill-treatment and conflict within some members of her family, hence she was worried that she would have to move again because of the child’s wayward behaviour.

It was said that Manana questioned the minor why he was behaving in such a manner because she had left them food when going to work adding that she did not want trouble and that she was maintaining the children without any help. Manana is said to have narrated that she then strangled the child in anger and stopped after some time. It is said that she began to see foam coming out of the child’s mouth. It is said that Manana brought her face close to the child’s nose to ascertain if he was breathing.

After sometime, it is said that the child took a long deep breath. It is believed that Manana was of the view that the child was sleeping hence she assisted him to bed. It was said that she stayed up until midnight but the minor did not move an inch.

Sleeping

She is said to have woken up around 4:30am and checked on him and found that he was still sleeping in the same position. She is said to have then taken her three-year-old child, locked the house around 6am and went to a friend’s house where she narrated everything that happened. It was said that the friend advised that she goes back to her step mother to inform her about the incident as Manana had said that she did not tell anyone back home. The friend took Manana to her step mother and she narrated the story. It was established that community police were called and the Royal Eswatini Police Service was also called and they took the remains of the child.

The child is said to have been taken to the mortuary and Manana into police custody. Manana appeared in court yesterday charged with murder. She made a confession and was remanded in custody pending committal to the High Court.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: