Gauteng stepdad arrested for murder

A 21-year-old man was arrested for the murder of his 11-month-old stepson in Johannesburg, Gauteng police said.

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Johannesburg - A 21-year-old man was arrested for the murder of his 11-month-old stepson in Johannesburg, Gauteng police said on Friday.

Warrant Officer Xoli Mbele said the man was arrested at the Fire Station on the corner Kruis Street and Fredericks Street on Thursday at around 2pm.

He said it is alleged that the man assaulted the boy in a shack at Madondo Squatter Camp on the corner Von Weilligh Street and Wemmer Jubilee Street on Thursday.

“The child had bruises on the head and all over his body. The mother of the child was busy with washing outside when she heard the stepfather screaming at her child. Suddenly it was quiet inside the shack,” Mbele said.

“When the mother came inside the shack; [her] boyfriend told her that the child is sleeping and he changed his statement that he fainted. They took the child to fire station where paramedics declared him dead.”

Mbele said the man tried to run away, but the police were called before he could flee and he was arrested.

He is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

ANA