The suspect identified as Wendy Tapiwa Kamwoto (29) gave
birth at her house in Sunway in Rietfontein on March 12. The matter came to
light on Friday after Kamwoto confided in a friend about the incident, leading
to her arrest.
North West provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel
Amanda Funani yesterday confirmed the incident. She said the suspect had since
appeared in court facing a murder charge.
“Our preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect,
who is a Zimbabwean placed the newborn baby in boiling water, then wrapped the
baby in a plastic bag before burying the body in a shallow grave,” said Lt-Col
Funani.
“The suspect later confided in her friend about the
incident, who then alerted the police leading to her arrest.”
Lt-Col Funani said police found the baby in a shallow grave
at a nearby field. She said the motive behind the alleged murder is not known. Lt-Col
Funani said Kamwoto appeared at the Brits Magistrate’s Court facing a murder
charge and she was remanded in custody to May 14.
Allegations against Kamwoto are that she was alone at her
home when she gave birth to the baby boy. It is further alleged that she placed
the newborn in a bowl containing boiling water, leading to his death.
She then wrapped the baby using a plastic bag and buried
the body in a shallow grave at a nearby field.
“Soon after committing the offence, the suspect allegedly
confided to a friend about what she had done and that the reason was because
she didn’t want a baby,” said Lt-Col Funani.
“Unable to keep such a secret, the friend alerted us.” Lt-Col
Funani said police officers then went to Kamwoto’s place of residence where the
suspect led them to where the baby’s body was buried in a shallow grave.
“The suspect was arrested and charged with murder and she
appeared in court on Friday and was remanded in custody to May 14 pending
application for bail,” said Lt -Col Funani.
Last year in June, another 42-year-old Zimbabwean woman
based in KwaZulu Natal Province in South Africa was arrested for allegedly
killing her six-year-old daughter.
Fungai Nyamadzawo, allegedly killed her daughter Alexia
Nyamadzawo, who was a Grade One pupil at Umhlali Preparatory School in KwaZulu
Natal.
She then made a false report to the police purporting that
the daughter was kidnapped by a man who snatched the girl from the back of her
vehicle before fleeing.
The body of the missing child was later found in a sugar
cane field in Riet Valley following a search by police.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Nyamadzawo on
allegations of murdering her daughter.
Nyamadzawo has since appeared before the Umhlali regional
magistrate’s court facing murder, defeating the ends of justice, kidnapping and
perjury charges. The matter is still pending.
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