By: Natasha Archary
A Nelspruit father has been arrested after he slit his 3-year old son’s throat after a domestic dispute with the child’s mother.
Thankfully the child did not lose his life in the incident and is receiving medical attention in hospital.
According to police, the parents who are no longer in a relationship were embroiled in an altercation on Sunday, 09 October.
The boy and his mother live in a shack in Msholozi, Kwamhlanga in Nelspruit, and the woman had obtained a protection order against her child’s father.
During the altercation, the father snatched the child from his mother and ran to another shack where he slit the child’s throat.
Acting swiftly, the boy’s mother called police and immediately reported that her son was forcefully removed from her home.
The father fled after he saw police approaching his home, leaving the boy inside the shack. Police noticed the child had a wound to his neck which was bleeding.
Police eventually apprehended the 29-year old father who is facing a charge of attempted murder. The man was expected to make an appearance at the Kwamhlanga Magistrates Court on Thursday, 13 October.
The possibility of further charges being added cannot be ruled out, due to the contravention of the Protection Order which is in place against him.
In a statement, SAPS Mpumalanga condemned the senseless actions of the father and said parents should resolve their disputes without putting their children in harm’s way.
“This is a shameful act allegedly committed by a father against his own flesh and blood. We are really concerned as to the kind of example we are setting for our children.
Parents should never abuse children by using them as a shield or weapons to fight their domestic battles. We hope the court will deal decisively with perpetrators of violence against the vulnerable groups.”
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