The Bloemfontein Regional Court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to Tshwarelo Tshilwane, 27, for the murder of his six-year-old son.
The court heard that on the morning of Friday, 09 June 2023, Tshilwane lost his temper while bathing his young son at their home in the Khayelitsha Informal Settlement, near Bloemfontein. The assault occurred in full view of the victim’s 14-year-old brother.
According to the proceedings, the older brother left for school while Tshilwane continued to beat the child. Upon returning from school that same day, the teenager discovered his six-year-old brother lying motionless and not breathing on a couch inside the home.
Police and emergency services personnel were summoned to the scene, where the six-year-old victim was declared dead.
Following the incident, a murder case docket was opened at the Bloemspruit Police Station. The investigation was assigned to Warrant Officer Solomon Mokgobo, leading to the arrest and prosecution of Tshilwane.
The court ultimately found Tshilwane guilty, culminating in the 20-year imprisonment sentence for the killing of his son.