A young mother and her boyfriend have been arrested after police uncovered a horrific case involving the death of her three-year-old son in the Eastern Cape.
The 23-year-old woman and her 32-year-old boyfriend, both from Mbizana, are accused of murdering the child and hiding his body by burying him inside a bucket.
Police say the little boy was allegedly tortured and later killed. Investigators believe he was beaten with a stick and died in Sulenkama, where the boyfriend is said to be employed.
According to police, the case dates back to 1 September 2024. The mother reportedly told officers in 2024 that her son had gone missing at a fuel station in Mbizana. However, the story began to fall apart after investigators reviewed CCTV footage, which allegedly showed that the child did not disappear the way she claimed.
As the investigation continued, police uncovered what they described as the true events: after the child’s death, the couple allegedly placed him in a 20-litre bucket, sealed it tightly with wire, and buried it in a small grave.
The suspects later led police to the grave. When it was dug up, officers found the toddler’s decomposed remains still inside the bucket.
Both suspects have now been charged with murder. The mother is also facing an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice.
They are expected to appear at the Qumbu Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
A senior police official described the case as heartbreaking, adding that the law must take its course.
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