KEY POINTS
- A two-year-old Free State toddler was rescued after being stabbed multiple times and held hostage by a 39-year-old man, who was shot in the leg by police during the rescue operation.
- The incident has sparked national outrage, with calls for stricter child protection laws and harsher penalties for crimes against children.
- This case follows another recent tragedy where a father was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his seven-month-old daughter.
In an incident that has shocked the nation, a two-year-old toddler from the Free State was rescued after being stabbed multiple times and held hostage by a 39-year-old man in Metsimahalo.
The suspect, reportedly from Oranjeville, was arrested following a dramatic police intervention that left him with a gunshot wound to the leg.
EWN reports that the ordeal began in the early hours of Wednesday, 19 February 2025, when police received a distress call about a hostage situation at a residence in Metsimahalo.
According to Sergeant Josephine Rani, the Free State Police spokesperson, officers responded immediately. “The suspect had allegedly threatened the child and was holding him hostage. When police arrived, the situation escalated, and officers were forced to shoot the suspect in the leg to rescue the toddler,” Rani explained.
The toddler, who sustained multiple stab wounds, was rushed to a nearby clinic for urgent medical treatment. Miraculously, he survived the attack and is currently recovering. The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, faces charges of attempted murder and is expected to appear in court.
Community outrage and calls for action
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across South Africa, with many calling for stricter child protection laws and harsher penalties for crimes against children. Child welfare organizations have expressed concern over the rising number of violent crimes targeting toddlers.
“This is not an isolated incident. We are seeing a disturbing trend of violence against children, and it must stop. The justice system must send a clear message that such acts will not be tolerated,” said Thandi Mokoena, a spokesperson for a local child rights NGO.
The Free State community, in particular, has been left reeling. Residents of Metsimahalo described the suspect as a reclusive figure who kept to himself. “We never expected something like this to happen here. It’s terrifying to think that someone could harm an innocent child in such a brutal way,” said a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.
This incident is not an isolated case. Just days earlier, a father in Mpumalanga was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his seven-month-old daughter. Hloniphani Trust Sithole was convicted of strangling the infant after kidnapping her following a breakup with her mother. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane stated, “The police and community members followed directions provided by the suspect and discovered the lifeless body of the infant in an open field. Paramedics confirmed she died due to strangulation.”
These cases have reignited debates about the adequacy of South Africa’s justice system in addressing crimes against children. Many argue that while jail sentences are necessary, more needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the first place.
