Man Arrested for the Murder of Two-Year-Old Niece

A 24-year-old man has been arrested for the alleged murder of his two-year-old niece in Phola Park, Kwamhlanga, on February 1, 2026.

The police received a call from a local hospital at around 2020hrs reporting that a child brought in by family members was declared dead on arrival. Upon arrival, officers discovered the child’s body with a deep wound to the neck and no signs of life.

Initial reports state that three children aged between two and six were playing outside when the suspect emerged from the house with a knife. Without saying a word, he allegedly attacked his niece, forcing her to the ground and inflicting a fatal injury. The other children ran to inform family members.

Despite immediate medical attention, the child sadly succumbed to her injuries. The suspect turned himself in to the police the following day and has been charged with murder. He is set to appear in Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court, today .

Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, expressed his shock and condolences to the family, stating, “It is shocking to learn that an innocent child was brutally murdered by a family member. We will ensure that the law takes its course.”