Community in Shock as 3-Year-Old Boy Dies from Poisoning Allegedly by His Brother

The community of Drieziek, Orange Farm, is in mourning after a chilling incident that has highlighted urgent concerns about child safety. A three-year-old boy tragically lost his life last Friday after allegedly being poisoned by his 18-year-old brother, sparking outrage and sorrow across the community.

Picture: Itumeleng English

The boy, identified as Abraham Lebogang Tsheole, was laid to rest on Thursday during a somber funeral service at the De Deur Cemetery. Family and friends gathered to support the Tsheole-Sibanda family as they faced this devastating loss.

According to reports, the incident occurred when the young child was playing outside while his family was inside the home, unaware of the intentions of the older brother. The 18-year-old suspect allegedly laced bread with rat poison and gave it to his younger sibling.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with murder. He appeared before the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and police confirmed the tragic events in their statements.

On the day of the incident, the child’s mother, Nthabiseng Esther Tsheole, was inside the home with the accused and her other sons, aged 16 and 22. At first, the mother did not immediately notice the child’s absence, assuming he was playing at a neighbor’s house. However, by 1:00 pm, with no sign of the boy, she began searching for him.

Around 4:00 pm, the 16-year-old brother discovered his younger sibling’s body inside a dustbin in a nearby field near the N1 highway. He confronted the accused before taking the body back home to inform their mother. Emergency services were called, but tragically, the child was declared dead at the scene.

The incident has left the community shaken, with many questioning the root causes of such a heinous act. Ward councillor Mxolisi Nzondo, who spoke during the service, expressed his deep sorrow, noting that this was not an isolated incident.

“I am deeply saddened by this tragedy,” said Nzondo. “We are seeing a disturbing rise in child poisoning incidents in our community. Just before this case, I was attending another incident where a young mother poisoned her two children with the same rat poison.”

Nzondo pointed to the community’s struggles with drug abuse and high unemployment rates as contributing factors to the increasing number of such tragedies. “As a community, we are grappling with the devastating impact of drugs and youth unemployment, which are fueling this alarming trend,” he added.

The Orange Farm police confirmed the incident, reporting that a case of murder and defeating the ends of justice had been opened. Following a swift investigation, with the help of community members, the 18-year-old suspect was arrested on the same day.

This heartbreaking case has ignited a broader conversation about the importance of child protection and safety in the community. As the Tsheole family grieves, the tragedy has drawn attention to the urgent need for greater awareness and intervention in preventing child abuse and poisoning.

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Sourced: The Pretoria News