Limpopo MEC for Social Development Florence Radzilani joined a grief-stricken community at Madabani on Saturday, 13 June, where two young children were laid to rest following an alleged poisoning incident that has shocked the province.
Akonaho Siphugu (9) and Otewa Thenjeni (6) died on 2 June after allegedly being poisoned by their mother, who remains in custody.
Addressing mourners, Radzilani said the department was deeply affected by the tragedy and had already activated psychosocial support services.
“We cannot begin to fathom the pain that the family is going through,” she said.
She added that social workers would continue supporting the family in the long term by providing counselling and trauma care. She also urged communities to work closely with government to safeguard children.
Family spokesperson Tshamano Thenjeni expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received since the tragedy, saying the family was unaware of any issues that could have led to the incident.
Meanwhile, the accused, Ntanganedzeni Thelma Siphugu (27), who is four months pregnant, faces two counts of murder relating to the deaths of her sons. She abandoned her bail application when she appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 12 June.
The court proceedings drew large crowds of residents, many of them young mothers, who gathered outside the courthouse to demand that bail be denied. Police maintained a strong presence and initially restricted access to the courtroom because of limited space, allowing only relatives and community leaders inside.
As the case unfolded, the State applied for the accused to undergo mental observation. Her legal representative opposed the application. Following brief questioning, the magistrate ruled that she was fit to stand trial (in the bail application) and dismissed the request.
The matter was postponed to 28 August for further police investigation.