“Taking someone’s life is a punishable crime regardless of the circumstances and the law will take its cause”
A 43-YEAR-old man in Loeriesfontein has been hospitalised and is under strict police supervision after allegedly stabbing his seven-month-old baby to death before turning the knife on himself on Wednesday.
It is alleged that the man, who is estranged from his wife, took his two children and refused to return them to their mother.
The mother was apparently granted legal guardianship of the children by the court.
The father is reported to be a well-known and respected political figure in the Northern Cape.
It is believed that he took the children – a two-year-old and a seven-month-old baby – by force with the intention of keeping them with him after being interdicted by the court.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Mohale Ramatseba said the baby was declared dead on the scene.
According to Ramatseba the father was transported to hospital.
The DA in the Province has expressed its condolences to the bereaved family.
DA Member of Parliament in Loeriesfontein, Gizella Opperman raised concern regarding the escalating number of offences against women and children in the area.
According to Opperman, children have fallen victim to rape in different towns in the district.
The Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Risimati Shivuri, condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms.
He urged communities to find better ways, such as counselling, to solve their marital problems instead of punishing children or causing them grief.
“Taking someone’s life is a punishable crime regardless of the circumstances and the law will take its cause,” warned Shivuri.
