Free State mother confesses to poisoning children
Updated | By Mmangaliso Khumalo
A Free State mother has confessed to killing her two children by giving them food laced with poison.
Maphephi Mokwena and the children's aunt Mantwa Mokwena appeared in the Bethlehem Magistrate's Court on Friday.
The two siblings died after eating what is suspected to have been poisoned brown beans in Bethlehem on Wednesday.
The two girls, aged 10 and 14 respectively, were pupils at Utopia Farm School.
It is understood that the girls ate the food before school and subsequently complained of stomach cramps.
READ: Durban cop who fatally shot son to plead not guilty
On Thursday, the postmortem revealed that the cause of death was food poisoning.
Free State police spokesperson Phumelelo Dhlamini says Mokwena confessed to poisoning the children.
"During further investigations, the mother of the children admitted that she bought poison called Temik to poison the soup."
The case has been postponed to 30 June.
"Maphephi is remanded in custody till the 30 June 2022 for formal bail application while Mantwa is released on warning and will appear again on the same date," Dhlamini.
MORE ON ECR
Show's Stories
-
Dad doesn't take news of daycare's closure well
Many South African parents are feeling the stress of having to work and ...
Carol Ofori an hour ago -
Born and bred in KZN, we celebrate Zesipho Mncwango
Carol Ofori celebrates Zesipho Mncwango, the founder of South Africa's o...
Carol Ofori an hour ago