Teenager Kills Three-Year-Old Brother with Rat Poison to Inflict Pain on Parents

An 18-year-old boy from Orange Farm, Johannesburg, has been accused of poisoning his three-year-old brother to death in an alleged attempt to inflict pain on their parents. The shocking incident took place on January 31, 2025, in Drieziek Extension 3, and the toddler was laid to rest on February 7.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, the child’s mother was at home with the accused and her other two sons, aged 16 and 22, when she noticed her youngest child was missing. Initially assuming he was playing at a neighbor’s house, she did not immediately raise the alarm. However, when the child had still not returned by 1 p.m., she began searching for him.

Later that afternoon, at around 4 p.m., the accused’s 16-year-old brother discovered him near the N1 highway, allegedly placing the toddler’s body inside a dustbin. After confronting him, the younger brother took the dustbin home and informed their mother. Emergency services were called, and the child was declared dead at the scene.

The next day, the 18-year-old suspect reportedly handed himself over to the police and allegedly confessed to poisoning his brother with rat poison. He appeared before the Vereeniging Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday on a murder charge, and the case was postponed to February 13 for a formal bail application.

In an interview with Newzroom Africa on February 10, the child’s father said that when he confronted his son about the incident, the teenager admitted to killing his brother with the intention of causing pain to their parents.