- A 24-year-old uncle appeared in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murdering his two-year-old niece; the case was postponed for a bail application.
- Police say the toddler was fatally wounded in front of other children at a home in Phola Park before the suspect fled and later handed himself over.
- In a separate matter, the provincial safety MEC warned families against intimidating witnesses in a long-running sexual assault case involving a father and grandfather.
A 24-year-old man, Petros Makua, appeared briefly before the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court facing a charge of murder following the horrific killing of his toddler niece today, 3 February 2026. The case has been postponed to 12 February to allow for a formal bail application.
The tragedy unfolded on Sunday, 1 February 2026, in Phola Park. According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Jabu Ndubane, three children aged between 2 and 6 were playing outside a residence when the suspect emerged from the house armed with a knife.
“Without saying a word, the suspect allegedly grabbed his 2-year-old niece, forced her to the ground, and inflicted a fatal wound to her neck,” said Ndubane. “He then fled the scene immediately. The other two children, witnesses to the attack, ran inside to alert the family.”
Police were alerted by a local hospital at approximately 8.20pm after the child was brought in by her family. She was certified dead on arrival. Responding officers confirmed that the child suffered a deep neck wound and showed no signs of life. Following a brief manhunt, Makua handed himself over to the police on Monday, 2 February, and was subsequently charged with murder.
Shock and grief in the province
Mpumalanga police Acting Commissioner Major-General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi expressed deep shock and condemnation regarding the incident. “It is shocking to learn that an innocent child was brutally murdered by a family member,” said Mkhwanazi. “We will ensure that the law takes its course.”
Mkhwanazi also extended his condolences to the grieving family as the community grapples with the senseless nature of the crime.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, expressed his profound shock at the murder of the child. Macie highlighted the need for a spiritual and social intervention to address the rising tide of violence. “There is a need for prayer in our communities,” Macie said. “We indeed need God Almighty to intervene.”
Separate case raises witness intimidation concerns
In another story, Macie has issued a stern directive to police to investigate allegations of witness intimidation and family interference in a high-profile sexual assault case on Tuesday, 3 February 2026. The case involves a suspect accused of raping both his daughter and his granddaughter on separate occasions spanning over a decade.
Macie was alerted that family members of the suspect are reportedly threatening the mother and grandmother of the victims. According to the department’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, these threats aim to obstruct the ongoing legal proceedings and silence those seeking justice.
The disturbing timeline of the alleged crimes includes a first victim who is now 24 years old and was allegedly assaulted by her father between 2008 and 2010, and a second victim, who is the 4-year-old daughter of the first victim, allegedly assaulted by her grandfather in November 2025.
“The suspect was arrested in December 2025. He was subsequently released on bail under strict conditions, including relocating to a different address and maintaining zero contact with the victims,” said Mmusi.
Macie emphasised that government efforts to combat gender-based violence and femicide are undermined when communities protect perpetrators.
“We have put in place a lot of work as a government to fight against the abuse of women and children. Therefore, we do not expect members of the community to interfere with the work of the police,” Macie said. “Families must support victims and encourage them to speak out. In that way, we will win this fight and remove perpetrators from our communities.”
Macie further urged the police to ensure evidence gathering is airtight to guarantee a successful prosecution.
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