By: Natasha Archary
Police have confirmed that the Engcobo mother who was accused of bludgeoning her 4 children to death with a hammer has died.
Nomboleko Simayile, the 32-year old mother, was in police custody at the time, reportedly fell ill and collapsed in her holding cell.
She reportedly died in hospital on Sunday, 20 November and the cause of death is at this stage unknown.
A post-mortem will need to be conducted to establish the cause of death.
The mother was arrested on 09 November on suspicion she had used a 4-pound sledgehammer to brutally murder her 4 children while they slept.
All children were under the age of twelve, and the youngest was just 2-years old. Police say they cannot comment on the nature of the crime or the exact weapon used as they are still working the crime scene.
The incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 09 November and the children all sustained severe injuries to their upper bodies.
Police identified the children as Lizalise (11), Inganathi (9), Othalive (5) and Elihle (2).
Simayile’s reasons for allegedly killing her children were still being investigated at the time of her death.
She was set to appear in the Engcobo Magistrates Court on 29 November for a formal bail hearing after the case was remanded on her last court appearance.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is said to be investigating the circumstances around Simayile’s death.
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