Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) organisation has applauded the recent verdict in the case of Baby Impilo, a newborn who was reported to have suffered a horrific death at the hands of his mother.

The Johannesburg High Court has found the mother guilty of murder, firmly rejecting her desperate attempts to evade responsibility for this tragic crime.

It is revealed that the sentencing has been postponed until May 2 and she has been remanded in custody as a pre-sentencing report is prepared.

The organisation also details the case has exposed the chilling reality of infanticide in South Africa, sparking outrage and concern.

Baby Impilo was born at home in March 2024, appearing to be a healthy, full-term infant. However, his life took a devastating turn shortly after birth.

Shortly after giving birth at home, his mother was seen arriving at Rahima Moosa Hospital, where her infant was wrapped in a blood-soaked towel and struggling for life.

Upon medical examination, doctors uncovered three deep, deliberate lacerations to his neck. These injuries, a result of intentional stabbing, severed critical structures such as his oesophagus and trachea.

Despite intensive medical intervention, including life support and surgery at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, Baby Impilo tragically succumbed to his wounds three months after the incident.

Although he had not yet been given a name, it is reported that his uncle gave him the name Impilo, meaning “life,” ensuring that the child would be remembered with dignity in death.

The court meticulously assessed the evidence presented and ultimately ruled that it was the mother who inflicted the fatal stab wounds while her boyfriend was searching for transport to take them to the hospital.

Key testimonies from medical professionals confirmed that the injuries were the direct cause of the infant's death. The mother's defense was also dismissed, which included numerous contradictory and implausible explanations regarding the circumstances of her son’s injuries.

“The mother falsely claimed that the baby’s injuries may have been caused by the umbilical cord or placenta, a claim that was never presented in court as her evidence and was rejected by the judge. She also suggested that medical procedures or hospital staff were responsible for the injuries, yet no medical records or testimony supported this. The accused attempted to lie about the father’s family taking the child and returning him with injuries, but this was not presented as evidence and was also rejected. Her own boyfriend contradicted her version, confirming that when he left to find transport, the baby was crying—but by the time he returned, the baby was silent, wrapped in a blood-soaked towel, and struggling to breathe,” the organization revealed.

The judge’s findings highlighted the mother's emotional detachment during the trial and her extensive dishonesty throughout the proceedings. It was concluded that her intentional actions led to Baby Impilo's death, with no alternative scenarios presented to break the chain of causation.

WMACA expressed gratitude towards the court's decision and reiterated their commitment to advocating for stringent penalties for crimes against children.

“This is a devastating case of a child whose life was brutally cut short before he had a chance to live,” stated Luke Lamprecht, Advocacy Manager at WMACA.

“But today’s verdict is a victory for justice. We will continue to fight for South Africa’s most vulnerable and ensure that perpetrators of violence against children face the full force of the law.”

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Mother found guilty of murder in tragic case of Baby Impilo

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