GAUTENG. – Nonkululeko Mbatha (44) has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences after being found guilty of the murder of her two children, aged nine years and seven months respectively.
Judge Mfenyana imposed the sentence in the Gauteng High Court, which is seated in Palm Ridge. The children died in February 2025 after their mother allegedly gave them poisoned food. Magaboke Mohlatlole, NPA spokesperson, says the court heard that Mbatha on five February 2025 mixed poison into food and gave it to her children at their home in Zuurbekom, Westonaria. The younger child died at the scene, while the older child succumbed in hospital days later. Mbatha also, apparently in an attempt to take her own life, ate some of the poisoned food, but survived.
Sergeant Mokgalagadi of the Westonaria police led the investigation. The court heard that Mbatha had previously bought several packets of poison and food at a local takeaway business. She also took photographs and videos of the children while they were in distress and shared them with family and friends. A suicide note addressed to the father of one of the children was also found.
Rolene Barnard, the senior state advocate, requested that severe sentences be imposed. She argued that Mbatha had abused the trust that her children had placed in her as their mother and had taken several steps in advance to commit the crimes. Judge Mfenyana found that Mbatha had more than one opportunity to change her plan. The court also considered the recording of the children's final moments as an aggravating factor.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
