Mother of 2-month-old girl strangled in Promosa

A 33-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death by her 42-year-old boyfriend in Promosa on Sunday.

Ikageng SAPS spokesperson, Const. Kelebogile Trom says the police received a call about a dead body in Bapei in Promosa at around 16:00.

“On their arrival at the scene, the police found bystanders and Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) personnel. The police went into the house and found a female lying on a blanket on the floor, with a torn pair of blue jeans and underwear pulled halfway down. She had blood stains on the mouth and nose and a bruise on her left eye. The EMRS certified the woman dead,” she says.

According to the SAPS provincial spokesperson, Sgt. Kelebogile Moleko, the deceased’s boyfriend was interviewed during the investigation and admitted to strangling her. He was then arrested and charged with murder.

42-year-old John Botshabelo briefly appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He was remanded in custody until Friday, 12 February 2016 for a formal bail application.

The secretary of the Ikageng Community Policing Forum (CPF), John Tebogo Medupe, said the police arrived at the scene within 20 minutes of him making the call. Before they arrived, he says, the suspect was under the watchful eye of the community who were demanding mob justice.

“As the CPF, we have submitted a letter to the chief magistrate for bail to be denied for the safety of the suspect. The community is enraged and will hurt or kill him,” he warned. Medupe says the couple had a history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse was also a contributing factor in the murder.

Medupe says the most heartbreaking thing is that the couple has a 2-month-old baby who is in need of clothes and food. The mother is dead, and the father is likely to be incarcerated for the murder. He called on the public and community leaders that are willing and able to assist with anything, to contact Const. Kelebogile Trom on 082 374 0271.