A 31-year-old Free State mother appeared in Bethlehem Magistrates Court on Friday charged with murdering her two children and father by feeding them a highly toxic insecticide.
Maphephi Alinah Mokwena, 31, appeared along with Mantwa Maria Mokwena, 21, on three counts of murder and two of attempted murder.
This followed the deaths of Mokwena’s two girls, aged 14 and 10, and hers 49-year-old father by poisoning Wednesday.
“On Wednesday morning, June 22, 2022, the deceased of Maria Mokwena were served brown bean soup before going to school and work,” said Capt Phumelelo Dhlamini, spokesman for the provincial police.
“The children complained of abdominal pain at school and were taken to the hospital, where they died. Her father also fell ill while at work and was taken to the hospital, where he also died.”
Dhlamini said the autopsy revealed the cause of death was poisoning.
“During Upon further investigation, the children’s mother admitted that she bought poison called Temik to poison the soup. She was arrested and detained at the Bethlehem Police Station.”
Mokwena was remanded in custody. She is scheduled to file a formal request for bail on June 30. Mantwa was released with warning.
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