A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Driekoppies, Schoemansdal, Mpumalanga, South Africa, for the murder of a domestic worker's three-year-old daughter. The suspect allegedly killed the toddler because the worker did not clean the home properly.
Mpumalanga police reported that the incident occurred while the child was accompanying her mother to work. Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, stated that the child's mother, a domestic worker at the residence, left her daughter sleeping on a couch. When she later could not find her, the suspect directed her to the garage, where she discovered the child's lifeless body with head injuries.
Police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were dispatched to the premises. Upon arrival, medical personnel confirmed the child had died. When questioned about the incident, the suspect allegedly stated that he was angry because the mother did not clean the house properly.
According to police, the suspect resides with his grandmother, who employs the victim's mother. A case of murder has been opened for investigation. The suspect is expected to appear in the Nkomazi Magistrate's Court on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
