In a heartbreaking case from the Free State, South Africa, Bonginkosi Mokoena, a 25-year-old man, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his girlfriend’s two-year-old son, Bophelo Moballane.
The tragic incident took place on June 5, 2023, when Mokoena brutally assaulted the toddler while the child’s mother was away.
According to police spokesperson W/O Mmako Mophiring, Mokoena struck Bophelo with a stick, kicked him with booted feet, and then placed him into a basin of cold water.
After the violent attack, Mokoena and his girlfriend went to bed, not checking on the child’s condition.
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The next day, when they realized Bophelo wasn’t breathing, they rushed him to a local clinic. Sadly, the child was declared dead upon arrival.
Mokoena was arrested that same day, and on March 19, 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. Additionally, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm or work with children.
The brutal nature of the crime has left the community in shock, and many are grieving the loss of young Bophelo.
In another disturbing case, the Northern Cape High Court also sentenced Henry Manolo for causing the death of his three-month-old baby, Henzo. Manolo was found guilty of culpable homicide after a violent argument with the baby’s mother.
These two cases highlight the tragic and rising instances of child abuse, leaving lasting impacts on families and communities.
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