Six months ago the death of four children in Klarinet shook eMalahleni.
More disturbing was that their 24-year-old mother handed herself over to police after her relatives found the bodies of the children wrapped in blankets in the apartment she rented.
A trial date for the 24-year-old mother, Zinhle Maditla is set aside for September 9 to 13.
Twenty-five state witnesses are lined up to testify.
Late in December last year Maditla told her family she had a gift for them.
This ‘gift’ stole the lives of her four children Minenhle (8), Blessing (6), Shanique (4) and Ettiene (11 months).
Visibly shaken and teary Maditla’s landlord, Ms Mathilda Mahlangu said they last saw the children at their home on December 26.
“The children and even the mother were fine. There were no signs or indication that this tragedy was about to unfold,” Mahlangu said.
Mahlangu and the other neighbours and friends said they think Maditla killed her children and slept in the room with them for a few days before handing herself over to police.
“I saw a lot of flies in the window of the room Maditla was renting. That could only mean one thing, she slept next to her murdered children,” Mahlangu said.
Police spokesperson, Capt Eddie Hall said the suspicion that Maditla poisoned her children, could not yet be determined as the bodies were in an advanced stage of decomposition and a post-mortem could not be conducted, However, DNA was taken from the bodies and sent to the toxicology laboratory.
Maditla is still in custody. She applied for bail, but this will only be considered once her address can be confirmed.
