KEY POINTS
- A 25-year-old Free State man, Bonginkosi Mokoena, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for brutally assaulting and killing his girlfriend’s two-year-old son after the child soiled himself.
- In a separate case, Henry Manolo was convicted of culpable homicide for the death of his three-month-old son, Henzo, following a violent altercation with the child’s mother.
- Both cases have sparked calls for increased awareness, intervention, and community involvement in preventing child abuse and domestic violence.
In a harrowing case that has shocked the Free State community, a 25-year-old man, Bonginkosi Mokoena, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the brutal murder of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son, Bophelo Moballane.
The incident, which occurred on June 5, 2024, has shed light on the devastating consequences of domestic violence and child abuse.
According to police spokesperson W/O Mmako Mophiring, Mokoena assaulted the toddler after the child soiled himself. “The child was whipped with a stick, kicked with booted feet, and placed inside a basin filled with cold water. Mokoena and his girlfriend then went to sleep without checking on the child’s condition,” Mophiring revealed.
The following morning, the couple discovered that the toddler was not breathing and rushed him to a local clinic. Unfortunately, it was too late.
Sowetanlive reports that emergency services declared the child dead upon arrival, and Mokoena was arrested the same day.
The court handed down its verdict on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, sentencing Mokoena to 20 years behind bars. In addition to his prison term, Mokoena was declared unfit to possess a firearm and barred from working with children.
A pattern of violence
In a separate but equally disturbing case, the Northern Cape High Court convicted Henry Manolo of culpable homicide in the death of his three-month-old son, Henzo. Manolo was also found guilty of assaulting the child’s mother. The incident occurred during a heated argument between Manolo and his girlfriend, both of whom were under the influence of alcohol.
“Manolo pushed his girlfriend, causing her to fall backward while Henzo was strapped to her back. He then forcibly removed the infant, causing him to fall onto a tarred road,” court documents revealed. Manolo fled the scene with the child but returned the next day to place Henzo’s lifeless body on a couch before leaving again.
These cases have sparked outrage and calls for stricter measures to protect children from domestic violence. Child rights activists have emphasized the need for increased awareness and intervention in households where abuse is suspected.
“These tragedies are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children in abusive environments. We must do more to identify and support at-risk families before it’s too late,” said Thandiwe Ndlovu, a spokesperson for a local child welfare organization.
The Free State and Northern Cape cases have also reignited debates about the role of community members in reporting suspected abuse. Many are urging neighbors, family members, and friends to speak up if they notice signs of violence or neglect.
