Abusive father hangs son (2) and himself

“I should be the one in that coffin. He should have killed me instead of my innocent baby that had no clue about relationship problems. He did not deserve to be brutally murdered like that.”

These are the heart-wrenching words of a heartbroken 21-year-old mother, Rose Tsamai, whose abusive, drug-addicted, 28-year-old boyfriend hanged their 2-year-old son, Thabiso Prins Tsamai, in his bedroom with a piece of wire before hanging himself in the kitchen.

The tragic scene unfolded in the poverty-stricken community of Marikana in Promosa.

Const. Kelebogile Trom, spokesperson of the Ikageng SAPS says they received this information from the father’s brother at about 06:00 on Saturday.

He alleges that he found them suspended from the ceiling and decided to cut them down. On their arrival at the deceased boyfriend’s house, the police found the bodies covered with a blanket.

The baby’s mother, Rose, says she learnt of the dreadful news only after a second phone call – from her brother.

“I was at work at a guesthouse. My mother was the first to call, but she was crying hysterically and could not break the news to me. After a few minutes, my brother called to ask where I was when the horrible deed was committed. I asked what he was talking about and he told me my boyfriend had hanged my son and then himself. In disbelief, I wanted to know where they were and whether they were still alive. He said they were both dead.”

Rose says she could not contain herself as the words wrenched an uncontrollable cry from deep within her being.

“I could not believe my son was gone. I immediately went to tell my employer what had happened. She was still asleep but her husband was awake and I told him. My employer was devastated to hear the news.

On my way to the taxi rank to get home, I found myself on the ground and realised that I must have passed out. I was dizzy and disorientated but I got up and continued walking. I almost got hit by a car when I crossed the road.

With God by my side, I arrived home and found that Thabiso had already been taken to the mortuary,” she said.

Rose, who celebrated her birthday last Sunday, has no idea why her baby was killed.

“My boyfriend called me on Friday to ask whether I was coming home for the weekend.

I said I was working and that I would only be home the following weekend. He hung up as if everything was fine, he didn’t even argue. That was the last time I heard his voice.

“Many thoughts keep racing through my mind about why he killed my son. Maybe it was because I wasn’t coming home. He has promised to kill me countless times. He definitely wanted to hurt me and spite me.”

Rose says she opted to stay and work at the guesthouse because she had run away from the boyfriend.

“I reported him to the police in the first week of February already and also applied for a protection order against him because I could not take the abuse anymore. He once slapped my sister who also opened a protection order case against him.”

Despite the pain, Rose smiles when she describes her son whom, she says, will forever be in her heart.

“Thabiso was a lively, talkative baby who loved to dance. He was the smartest baby and was protective of me. I remember that, after my boyfriend hit me, he used to tell my mother what happened.”

Rose’s painful experience has shocked the community of Promosa. She urges other women in abusive relationships to be careful and get out while there is still time.

“They should never take the words of the perpetrator lightly. When he says he is going to kill you, that should sound the alarm,” she says.

While speaking to the Herald, Rose burst into tears when a group of toddlers from Toddler Town crèche under the leadership of Ms Deborah Voyi came to sing, pray for, and comfort the grieving family.

Thabiso Prins Tsamai was  buried in Marikana, Promosa on Thursday 3 March.