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Stuff from Johannesburg

Filicide Mother Sentenced

GAUTENG – Gauteng police welcome the successful investigation that resulted in a 44-year-old woman being sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for the murder of her two children by the Palm Ridge High Court on Monday, 19 October 2026.

The accused, Nonkululeko Mbatha, who was the mother of the two victims, was found guilty on two counts of murder following a thorough investigation by Westonaria SAPS detectives.

The incident occurred on 4 February 2025 at approximately 22:30. According to the investigation, the accused fed her two children food that had been poisoned. She reportedly took photographs of the food and the poison before feeding the children. She later recorded a video of the younger child experiencing distress before the child died at the scene. The accused subsequently shared the photographs and video with friends and family members.

The accused also attempted to take her own life by consuming the same poisoned food. Family members and friends who arrived at the scene contacted the police and emergency medical services. The younger child was declared dead at the scene, while the elder child, a 10-year-old boy, was taken for medical treatment. He was later transferred to another hospital. The accused also received medical treatment.

The investigating officer collected exhibits at the scene and submitted them to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis. Toxicology results confirmed that the children died as a result of poisoning. Despite receiving medical treatment, the 10-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries a few days later.

Following the incident, the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Odirile Alfred Mokgalagadi, maintained contact with hospital staff to ensure that the accused would be apprehended upon her discharge. Once informed of her discharge, the investigating officer proceeded to the hospital and arrested her on two counts of murder. Bail was successfully opposed, and the matter was subsequently transferred to the Palm Ridge High Court for trial.

On 19 October 2026, the court found the accused guilty on both counts of murder and sentenced her to life imprisonment on each count. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently. The successful outcome of this case demonstrates the importance of thorough investigations, the diligent collection and analysis of evidence, and the commitment of investigating officers to ensuring that perpetrators of serious crimes are brought to justice.

SAPS Westonaria commends Detective Sergeant Mokgalagadi of Westonaria Detectives for his dedication and commitment, which contributed to securing the conviction.

Gauteng police remain committed to investigating serious and violent crimes, particularly gender-based violence and crimes against children, and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.

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The Cradle of Humankind and Ancient Roots

While the modern city is only about 140 years old, the ground beneath it holds the secrets of humanity’s earliest ancestors. Located just 50 kilometers northwest of the city center is the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area contains a complex system of limestone caves, including the famous Sterkfontein Caves, where nearly 40% of all the world’s human ancestor fossils have been discovered.

Significant finds like “Mrs. Ples” (Australopithecus africanus) and the near-complete skeleton of “Little Foot” have provided scientists with crucial evidence about how early hominids walked upright and transitioned into the Homo genus. More recently, in 2013, the discovery of Homo naledi in the Rising Star cave system stunned the scientific community, suggesting that ancient human relatives may have practiced ritualized burial much earlier than previously thought. This proximity to the “birthplace of humanity” gives Johannesburg a unique cultural depth; while it is a city of skyscrapers and high finance, it is also a place where you can stand on the very ground where our species took its first steps.