Limpopo mum sent for observation after killing newborn baby

The department of health in Limpopo has recommended that a 35-year-old woman, who held her week-old baby boy by the legs and bashed his head against the floor until he died, be sent for mental observation.

The woman gave birth at the Zebediela Hospital, outside Lebowakgomo.

“Seven days after the birth, the woman marched to the Children Care Unit and removed the baby from the incubator,” said Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe yesterday.

Ngoepe explained that the woman wielded the baby by his legs and swung him at the nurses who were in the ward.

She then bashed the infant’s head against the floor until he died. Police were alerted and arrested the woman. The baby was declared dead at the scene.

“The woman will appear before the Magatle Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder,” said Ngoepe. The department of health in Limpopo yesterday said it was still shell-shocked by the incident.

“We have sent officials to the hospital and to the village where the woman lives to try to speak to the right [people] about the woman’s behaviour,” said departmental spokesperson Thabiso Tefo.

“We will also recommend that the woman be taken for mental observation to see if she was level-headed when she committed such a despicable act.”